15 teachers appointed for Ashram Paddhati schools
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 6 Sep: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday handed over appointment letters to fifteen assistant teachers selected for state-run Ashram Paddhati schools under the Tribal Welfare Department during a ceremony held at the CM’s Official residence here. On the occasion, he also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several departmental construction schemes worth more than Rs 15 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the CM expressed confidence that these projects would not only strengthen the basic facilities of the tribal society but also ensure better amenities for citizens. Congratulating the selected teachers, he said that the youth appointed today would play a significant role in shaping the new generation. He remarked that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, historic steps are being taken for the uplift of the tribal community. Among the most important initiatives, he cited the decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as Tribal Pride Day.
He claimed that the previous governments had only made hollow claims regarding tribal welfare, whereas the present government, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, is taking concrete measures on the ground for the holistic development of the community. The Central government, he said, has increased the budget for tribal development nearly threefold, and several schemes such as Eklavya Model Schools, Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, Van Dhan Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission are being implemented for their benefit.
Dhami stated that under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, 128 tribal villages in Uttarakhand have been selected. At present, four Eklavya Adarsh Residential Schools are functioning in Kalsi, Mehravna, Bajpur, and Khatima, where tribal students are provided free education and hostel facilities. He added that the state government has requested the Centre to sanction an Eklavya school in Pithoragarh district to promote education among the Bhotia and Raji tribes.
The CM further said that scholarships are being provided to tribal students from the primary level to post-graduation, while sixteen government-run Ashram Paddhati schools are operating across the state. In addition, three ITIs have been established to impart technical education to unemployed tribal youth, and free coaching and scholarships are being extended to help them prepare for competitive examinations.
Dhami claimed that, inspired by the life and work of Lord Birsa Munda, the state government is committed to preserving the cultural values and demographic character of Uttarakhand. In this direction, a strict anti-conversion law has been implemented, more than 9,000 acres of government land have been freed from encroachment, and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been enforced in Uttarakhand as the first state in the country, while exempting all Scheduled Tribes to safeguard their traditions and customs. On the occasion, the CM also announced the beautification of the Tribal Research Institute, the construction of a modern toilet block for girls, and a dining hall at the Adi Lakshya Institute.
Among those present on the occasion, were Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, MLAs Khajan Das, Umesh Sharma Kau, Savita Kapoor, Dalip Singh Rawat, and Pramod Nainwal, along with Chairperson of the Tribal Commission Lilavati Rana, Secretary Social Welfare Sridhar Babu Addanki, Director Tribal Welfare Sanjay Tolia, Director Social Welfare Chandra Singh Dharamshaktu, and senior departmental officials.
