CM inaugurates Science Festival in Guptkashi
Garhwal Post Bureau
Guptkashi (Rudraprayag), 15 Oct: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Fourth Border Area Hill District Children’s Science Festival in Guptkashi today. On this occasion, he also announced that a Border Area Development Council would be constituted in the state to enhance facilities and services in the state’s border and remote regions. He further declared that Innovation Centres would also be established in border districts to provide essential training and information related to disaster management, health, and education and strengthen local resilience and capacity.
The state-level science festival inaugurated today has been organised by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST). The CM on this occasion also interacted with child scientists from various districts, on subjects such as climate change, conservation of natural water resources, disaster preparedness, advancements in science and technology, and energy conservation. Dhami also observed that such a grand event would offer new direction and opportunities to young scientific minds from the border areas, encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Reminding the gathering of India’s progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhami asserted that the country is scaling new heights in innovation, research, and self-reliance. He emphasised that the future trajectory of India would be shaped by scientific and technological breakthroughs. He noted that India is asserting its presence globally in sectors such as space exploration, driven by indigenous scientific capabilities. He also reminded that Dehradun would soon host the country’s fifth Science City, a significant milestone for a hill state like Uttarakhand. The CM added that most public services are now being delivered online, which ensures transparency and efficiency.
During the programme, the CM directed the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag to prepare an action plan for establishing a Disaster Management Centre in the district. He also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakhs for developmental works at PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Bansu Jakhdhar. The CM also felicitated Padma Shri awardee Kalyan Singh Rawat, border area entrepreneur Inder Singh Rawat, and Border Service Foundation’s Dr Patni for their exemplary contributions in their respective fields. He also unveiled UCOST’s Rudraprayag Dashboard book, a GIS-based remote system that aims to consolidate departmental scheme data on a single platform for public access.
The theme of the Fourth Border Area Hill District Children’s Science Festival is ‘Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Disaster Risk Management Integration’. The festival aims to foster dialogue on critical issues such as climate change and conservation of natural water resources, while encouraging the development of strategic solutions.
Among those present on the occasion included Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, District Panchayat President, Rudraprayag, Poonam Kathait, Vice President, Women and Child Development, Aishwarya Rawat, BJP District President Bharat Bhushan Bhatt, Director General, UCOST, Professor Durgesh Pant, DM Prateek Jain, SP, Rudraprayag, Akshay Prahlad Konde, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Rajendra Singh Rawat, ADM Shyam Singh Rana and Principal, PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Jakhdhar, Tilak Singh.
