Governor’s message on eve of State Formation Day
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 8 Nov: Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) today extended congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the state on the eve of State Formation Day. The Governor also paid tribute to the martyrs and statehood activists who made great contributions towards the creation of the state. He also paid tribute to the military and police forces, paramilitary forces and retired military personnel on this occasion.
In his message, the Governor said that the state is entering its 24th year of existence. With dreams of development and prosperity, the people of the state have seen a new Uttarakhand blossoming, flourishing and developing in these 23 years. The state is making steady progress but a lot still remains to be done, which will require collective efforts.
Singh claimed that Uttarakhand is moving at a fast pace towards economic progress. Uttarakhand has regularly found its name among the leading states of the country on many development indices. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that the benefits of development equally reach the poor, the deprived, the farmers and the mothers, sisters, youth, farmers and entrepreneurs living in remote areas of Uttarakhand so that they too can join the mainstream of society.
The Governor said that, this year, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India successfully hosted the Global G-20 conference on the theme of Vasudhaiva-Kutumbakam. uttarakhand also played its part and organised 3 conferences with great success. These conferences brought recognition to the state at the global level. He added that a Global Investors’ Summit is being organised in the state in the month of December, which would open the doors of investment. So far, investment agreements worth more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore have been signed. He added that a Global Disaster Management Conference will be organised to brainstorm on disaster management. In this conference, solutions to the challenges arising from the disaster will be discussed beneficial to the state.
Singh added that the Prime Minister’s visit to Adi Kailash and Jageshwar Dham had given the Manaskhand region a new identity in the country and the world. The state government has started the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission to develop the temples and tourism of the Kumaon region. Just a few days ago, the Central Government approved the Jamrani Multipurpose Project. This scheme would provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of agricultural land and drinking water to millions of people in Kumaon.
The Governor added that many important decisions have been taken by the government in the last few months. To maintain transparency of competitive examinations, a strict anti-rigging law has been implemented. Many persons accused of being involved in irregularities in competitive examinations have been arrested. To increase the participation of women in government jobs, a provision of horizontal reservation has been made. Singh observed that huge changes are taking place in villages in every sector related to roads, electricity, water, cooking gas, health, education, financial inclusion, social security. Remote villages have become the first villages of the country, their infrastructure development is now a top priority. For this, the Central Government has started the ‘Vibrant Village’ scheme. The aim of this scheme is to implement many development schemes in border villages and develop them by strengthening facilities like roads, electricity, water, health, education, etc. This scheme would prove to be very effective for reverse migration, he felt.
Singh emphasised that women have played an important role in the building of the state of Uttarakhand. Women are the backbone of the economic and social structure, especially in the hills. He insisted that women’s education, health and employment should be a top priority. Women are becoming economically empowered through women self-help groups. The products they make are world class but they need support in packaging and branding. Encouraging women enterprises based on local products in the state will achieve the dual goal of women empowerment and protection of local products. The Governor called upon the need to adopt new solutions based on Artificial Intelligence, digital and cyber technologies. He felt that through AI and technology, work can be done very easily, while it is also necessary for transparency and accountability. He has expressed confidence that adoption of new technologies is sure to bring about a revolution of change in the fields of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, etc.
He reminded that, along with the government, social organisations, NGOs, social workers and individual efforts are also important in the development and progress of the state. The Governor called upon the people of the state to discharge whatever duties and responsibilities they have with full dedication and contribute their bit towards the progress of the state.
