2-day seminar on Social Justice begins in Doon
By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 7 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated today that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nearly 30 crore people across India have been raised above the poverty line over the past decade due to effective government policies. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day Chintan Shivir organised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Dehradun on Monday.
The Chief Minister expressed pride that Uttarakhand is hosting a national-level brainstorming session on a vital subject like social justice. He noted that this Chintan Shivir reflects the ideologies of great thinkers like Dr BR Ambedkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, and will serve as a foundation for future roadmaps on social empowerment policies.
Highlighting the government’s commitment, CM Dhami said that the Central Government under PM Modi has worked with the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”. Once limited to a few schemes, the social welfare sector has now witnessed transformative changes. Through various schemes—pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities, scholarships for students, promotion of self-employment and entrepreneurship—the marginalised sections have been brought into the mainstream.
He also spoke about drug rehabilitation programmes and awareness initiatives. In Uttarakhand, the state government is aligning with these goals by increasing old-age pensions, offering pensions to both spouses, ensuring monthly payments, and providing three free LPG cylinders annually to Antyodaya families.
Further, the CM detailed welfare initiatives for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including scholarships from Class 1 to 12, 15 free hostels, 5 residential schools, 3 ITIs, free coaching for competitive exams, and monthly stipends. He mentioned a financial grant of Rs 50,000 for the marriage of SC/ST girls, development of infrastructure in tribal areas, and a Rs 1 crore corpus fund for a Tribal Research Institute.
Under the Atal Housing Scheme, SC families without housing are provided Rs 1.2 lakh to build permanent homes. The state has also selected 128 tribal villages under the PM Tribal Advancement Village Campaign. With support from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Uttarakhand is offering geriatric eye care and training for elderly care.
He emphasised 4% reservation for persons with disabilities in state jobs and mentioned that the Nasha Mukt Devbhoomi campaign is being run in mission mode, with de-addiction centres planned in every district. One such centre has already started in Haldwani.
Children involved in begging are being rescued and enrolled in schools, while youth and adults are receiving skill development training to link them to self-employment. Under the Centre’s SMILE scheme, four cities in Uttarakhand have been selected to boost these efforts. Concluding his speech, the CM invited all participants to the upcoming Char Dham Yatra and introduced the newly launched Winter Yatra, inspired by PM Modi’s visit to Harsil.
Coordination between States & Centre is Crucial: Union Minister Virendra Kumar
Earlier, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, emphasised the vital role of states in ensuring the benefits of central schemes reach the marginalised. He said the aim of the Chintan Shivir is to strengthen coordination between the Centre and states for better policy implementation.
He recalled that when the journey of Chintan Shivirs began from Agra, only eight states participated. In contrast, the Dehradun Shivir has seen representation from 15 states—a positive sign. He especially highlighted the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, noting the growing concern of drug addiction among students and youth, and stressed the need for joint efforts.
Union Minister of State BL Verma noted that organising the Shivir immediately after the financial year-end ensures timely sharing of information between Centre and states, enabling effective execution of schemes.
Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale remarked that the Ministry holds a significant responsibility to ensure justice for the underprivileged. He reaffirmed the Prime Minister’s guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. Several ministers and departmental officials from various states participated in the Shivir.
