Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 9 May: Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh arrived in Lansdowne on Saturday as part of his two-day district visit programme. During the visit, he participated in several events at the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre and reviewed matters related to military activities, women empowerment, self-employment, environmental conservation, and district administration.
The Governor was welcomed at Shaheed Bhawani Datt Joshi Parade Ground by District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria, Chief Development Officer Girish Gunwant, and Commandant of the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre Vinod Negi. A ceremonial Guard of Honour was also presented.
The Governor inaugurated the “Ex-Servicemen Environment Park,” dedicated to veterans and environmental conservation. Officials briefed him about the park’s concept, structure, and ecological significance. He praised the initiative for promoting environmental awareness while honoring former servicemen for their contribution to the nation.
During the visit, the Governor interacted warmly with students of the Army Public School and local residents, encouraging children to embrace discipline, education, and the spirit of national service.
He later visited the “All Women Café,” where local women displayed traditional hill products and handicrafts. The Governor appreciated the quality and presentation of local products and said that promoting such products strengthens the rural economy and empowers women through self-employment.
The Governor also toured the “Bhulli Empowerment Centre,” where he reviewed various training and production units. He inspected sections related to metal art, the Veer Nari computer training centre, block printing, handmade paper production, woollen caps, shawls, beauty services, spice production, and child development activities.
He praised the craftsmanship and utility of the products made by women and described the centre as an excellent example of women empowerment and self-reliance. He noted that vocational and skill-based training programmes are helping women and youth from regimental families and nearby rural areas connect with self-employment opportunities.
Lt Gen Singh inspected machines and training equipment at the centre and interacted with the women workers regarding their experiences and work processes. Stressing the importance of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, he directed the district administration to strengthen coordination with self-help groups and government schemes to further expand the centre’s activities and marketing opportunities.
During the programme, the Governor also interacted emotionally with children, discussing their education, sports, and future aspirations, and motivating them to pursue their dreams.
At the Command Hall, the District Magistrate presented a detailed briefing on law and order, development works, tourism, infrastructure, and administrative arrangements in the district. The Governor reviewed the progress of various welfare schemes and emphasized their effective implementation.
Later, during a station briefing at Roy Hut, the Governor was informed about military activities, arrangements, and security-related matters in the region.
The programme was attended by several officials, including Vijay Tomar, Manoj Kumar Thakur, Vivek Kumar Upadhyay, Shalini Maurya, and Niharika Semwal, along with officers from the Army, administration, and police departments.
