CM lays foundation stone of Saraswati Vidya Mandir’s hostel at Manduwala
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 20 May: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone of a new hostel at the Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Manduwala here today. Speaking on the occasion, he congratulated the students, stating that the hostel would provide residential facilities while playing a vital role in their holistic development. The CM reminded the audience that Saraswati Shishu Mandirs were established post-independence to revive cultural values and instil nationalism among the students. He also praised the students of Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Manduwala, for achieving 100 per cent results in the recent 10th and 12th board examinations.
Dhami observed that significant improvements have been made in the education sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with Uttarakhand being the first state to implement the New Education Policy. He added that the state is constructing 141 PM Shri Schools and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose residential schools, and virtual classrooms have been introduced in 500 schools across 13 districts. To ensure quality education, NCERT books have been made compulsory in all government schools.
Dhami also reminded that the meritorious students from classes 6 to 12 in government and aided private schools are receiving scholarships under the Mukhyamantri Meghavi Chhatra Protsahan Scholarship Scheme. Additionally, top-performing students of classes 10 and 12 from each development block are being sent on a ‘Bharat Bhraman (India tour)’. The state has launched the Mukhyamantri Balashray Yojana, and a Vidya Samiksha Kendra has been established to enhance school education quality and outcomes.
The CM further asserted that Uttarakhand has become the first state to implement the Prime Minister’s Gujarat model of Vidya Samiksha Kendra, linking around 16,000 schools to this system. Plans are underway to connect all private schools, enabling centralised access to teacher and student data as well as to the academic activities. Dhami also emphasised on the government’s commitment to sports alongside education, stating that stadiums and training facilities worth crores of rupees have been developed. Scholarships are awarded to talented athletes from the age of 8, and residential sports college students receive free training, education, food, accommodation, and kits.
On this occasion, the CM also announced that medal-winning athletes in any national-level competition would be offered government jobs. He reminded that Uttarakhand’s athletes had made history by securing over 100 medals at the 38th National Games.
Dhami further praised Vidya Bharati, which operates over 12,000 schools across India, educating more than 3.5 million students. These institutions provide modern education while fostering values of patriotism, ethics, Indian culture, traditions, and social responsibility.
Among those present on the occasion included Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal member Suresh Soni; Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal; MLA Sahdev Pundir; Vice Chancellor of Doon University Prof Surekha Dangwal; Akhil Bharatiya Sangathan Mantri Shiv Kumar; Kshetriya Sangathan Mantri (Western Uttar Pradesh) of Vidya Bharati Domeshwar Sahu; President, School Campus, Surendra; Dr Sushma Agarwal; Municipal President Neeru Devi and Chairperson Child Rights Protection Commission Dr Geeta Khanna.
