CM to hold dialogue with 140 selected students today at Vidyarthi Manthan
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Sep: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s initiative to involve youth in shaping Uttarakhand’s development vision is entering its final stage with a direct dialogue with 140 selected students scheduled for tomorrow. The interaction will mark the culmination of the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Vidyarthi Manthan’ campaign, which has invited suggestions from students across the state on the theme, ‘How should my dream Uttarakhand be?’. Out of 2,67,744 responses received from Class 11 and 12 students through the online portal, 140 were shortlisted by experts for their depth and relevance.
To make the dialogue more comprehensive, the CM has directed senior IAS officers and the heads of departments to engage with the students beforehand. The officials from education, health, forests and environment, self-employment, migration, public works, IT, tourism, women and child development and other sectors will listen to the students’ ideas and present their insights to the CM. Dhami has reiterated that the youth are not only the future of Uttarakhand but also active participants in present-day policy-making. The campaign has therefore been designed as a platform for meaningful exchange rather than just a competition.
The CM claimed that the constructive suggestions from students will be incorporated into government policies and development strategies. He stated that the government’s priority is to understand the vision of the younger generation and align it with planning for a developed Uttarakhand. Dhami described the participants as part of the ‘Indian Generation’ whose innovative ideas and aspirations will help shape the state’s future. He added that involving senior officers in the final phase ensures that valuable inputs are directly connected to governance.
It may be recalled that the campaign, launched on 10 August with Dhami’s appeal to students, also carries a major incentive. The 140 selected students will receive scholarships of up to Rs 2 lakhs each for career coaching after Class 12. This provision is aimed at supporting their preparation for competitive examinations and professional courses. The initiative is being seen as the first of its kind in the country, where lakhs of students have contributed to a structured dialogue with the government on issues ranging from education, employment and migration to tourism, environment, technology and women’s empowerment.
The CM emphasised that voice of the youth must not only be heard but also integrated into policy frameworks. He linked the campaign to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, asserting that Uttarakhand’s youth will play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
