By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 22 Aug: In collaboration with Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology and Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a brainstorming session was organised on ‘Adarsh Champawat, Uttarakhand @ 25’, today, at Vigyan Dham Complex, Jhajra.
On the occasion, Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Anil Joshi, Patron of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), said that in view of ecological diversity of the Himalayas, there is an opportunity for all to conduct experiments on various issues. Referring to the recent disaster in Bindal Valley, he said that the repetition of such incidents is a matter of concern. He said that this is a good opportunity to lay the foundation of a development policy for the entire Himalayas through the model of Adarsh Champawat.
“Through this, we will be able to give direction to other Himalayan states for policy and development friendly to mountainous regions,” he added. He also said that society, government and non-government organisations will have to work together for the uplift of the society. The development of the state through science and technology will have to prepare an action plan keeping in view the environment, in which HESCO could cooperate.
Welcoming all the departments, Prof Durgesh Pant, Director General, said that ‘Bodhisattva Vichar Shrankhla’ is an innovative initiative of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Through this forum, there will be a brainstorming of ideas between government and non-government subject experts working in various fields like water, forest, land, agriculture, health, education and socio-economic security. Some innovative ideas are being received from the Bodhisattva Vichar Shrankhla for the sustainable development of the state.
“We are gathered here today for the vision of Adarsh Champawat Uttarakhand @ 25,” he declared. “Today, various subject experts and officials from various line departments of the government and non-government institutions will brainstorm ideas to develop Champawat as an ideal district through the application of science and technology. For this, all the departments will play an important role in bringing about the goal of Uttarakhand @25 by making the development works more effective.”
In accordance with the Chief Minister’s instructions, the council has been made the nodal agency to make Champawat an ideal district through intervention of science and technology. Improvement of land and water resources through application of science and technology, agriculture and horticulture and industries based on these, value addition, animal husbandry, poultry, education, health, disaster management, energy, natural resource management, socio-economic security and various fields was the objective. It can be instrumental in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram informed the gathering that the survey and study of Champawat district has been completed so that a specific action plan can be prepared. Expressing his concern, he said, “We have to prevent distress migration by providing livelihood options to the youth. The purpose of this brainstorming session is to find opportunities for livelihood generation in the district and to provide basic facilities to the people with the help of science and technology.” He added that a target-oriented action plan for livelihood should be prepared prioritising cattle breeding, value addition, horticulture, floriculture, local spices, skill development of local people for home stay scheme, etc. “Like other Himalayan states, we should also develop effective schemes on the cultivation of cash crops,” he stated. “Organisers should do Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) analysis of all the plans for Champawat district. Along with this, we must explore possibilities in tea-tourism and eco-tourism in Champawat district.”
In the brainstorming session, Narendra Bhandari, District Magistrate, Champawat, stated that all the departments have to work together to make Champawat an ideal district. Various departments were asked by the District Magistrate to prepare a detailed action plan.
A short film was also shown on this occasion, in which information about the objectives, the concept of Adarsh Champawat and the works done under it were featured.
Government departments like Urban Development, Higher Education, Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Unani, Social Welfare, Fisheries Department, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, NABARD, IIRS, Tourism, ITI Tanakpur, Skill Development and Training, Garden, Vivekananda Parvateey Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Kagas NGO, Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre, Milk Development, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Uttarakhand Rural Development, Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan, officials of Industries Department presented their action plans.
