Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Jul: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) on Wednesday inaugurated Operation Saathi, the Aarohi Incubator, and the AI Newsletter at the Lok Bhavan, here. On the occasion, the Governor also visited a startup exhibition showcasing innovative technologies and AI-based solutions developed by young entrepreneurs.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that these three initiatives mark the beginning of a new era of knowledge, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and participatory development in Uttarakhand. He noted that the 21st century belongs to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber technologies, and other emerging technologies, and emphasised that Uttarakhand must prepare itself now to lead this transformation.
The Governor said that Lok Bhavan has already created awareness and public confidence in AI through initiatives such as the AI Theme Room and AI on Wheels. He added that Operation Saathi, the Aarohi Incubator, and the AI Newsletter represent the next phase of this mission.
Highlighting the immense talent and original ideas among Uttarakhand’s youth, the Governor stressed the need to identify these abilities and connect them with technology, research, and innovation. He said that, through Operation Saathi, outreach programmes will be conducted in rural areas, schools, and universities to identify young innovators who are developing solutions to local challenges.
He further stated that every innovative idea requires the right ecosystem to flourish, and that the Aarohi Incubator will provide guidance, expert mentorship, and resources to help transform innovative ideas into successful startups. Referring to the startup exhibition, he said that young innovators in the state are developing AI-powered applications to address local challenges, an important step towards the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
Expressing confidence in the new initiatives, the Governor said that Operation Saathi, the Aarohi Incubator, and the AI Newsletter would create a strong ecosystem for innovation, startups, research, and public participation in Uttarakhand, helping establish the state as a national model for responsible AI and innovation-driven development.
On the occasion, Siddharth Madhav of TechnoHub gave a presentation on the three initiatives. The event was attended by Reena Joshi, Additional Secretary to the Governor; Durgesh Pant, Director General of UCOST; Jayant Srinivas, Director of the Assistive Technologies Accelerator at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Bengaluru; Amogh Lila Prabhu, Vice President of ISKCON Temple, Dwarka, New Delhi; Vice-Chancellors of various universities; and students.
Operation Saathi is a special initiative aimed at identifying hidden talent and grassroots innovations in the remote regions of Uttarakhand. Under this programme, outreach activities will be conducted across all 13 districts of the state to engage with students, researchers, women entrepreneurs, farmers, self-help groups, startups, and local innovators, providing a platform for their innovative ideas and solutions.
The AI Newsletter is a dedicated knowledge platform designed to document developments in artificial intelligence, research, innovation, startups, technology-enabled governance, and institutional achievements across Uttarakhand. It will bring together AI-related activities, research, policy initiatives, student innovations, startup success stories, and best practices, making them accessible to educational institutions, researchers, industry, and the general public.
The RoV (RoV) Incubator Centre has been established as a dedicated incubation platform to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand. Its objective is to support young innovators and startups throughout their journey—from idea generation and prototype development to mentorship, business development, investor networking, and enterprise creation. The centre will place special emphasis on nurturing talent from rural and mountainous regions while strengthening the state’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
