Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 8 Jun: A meeting chaired by SETU Aayog Chief Executive Officer Shatrughan Singh was held at the Secretariat here today with senior officials from various departments and institutions to deliberate on issues related to the state’s long‑term economic growth and employment creation. During the meeting, discussions covered a roadmap related to tourism, agriculture, horticulture, health and technological development.
SETU Aayog has launched Integrated Smart Village Centres in different districts to expand public services and digital facilities at the rural level. These centres aim to assess development potential across sectors and prepare long‑term plans. During the meeting, special emphasis was laid on building trust among local communities under the departmental convergence model and ensuring their participation so that farmers, women and youth can access better government services.
Shatrughan Singh said the Commission is working towards balanced and inclusive development in the state, keeping in view the state’s geographical and environmental challenges. He stressed that all the government schemes must reach eligible beneficiaries through joint efforts and that departments must take convergence seriously for rural upliftment. He underlined the need for greater participation of the villagers, public representatives and the institutions in these efforts.
He directed the departments concerned to strengthen coordination and implement development schemes and projects effectively, giving priority to a balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth so that problems at the village level are resolved locally. Representatives of identified centres at the panchayat level were asked to prepare one‑year action plans in consultation with local people and to include in these plans how government schemes can be delivered more efficiently. These plans are to be submitted by the end of June.
The meeting also stressed on the importance of greater coordination among the departments to implement schemes effectively. Senior officials and experts shared their experiences and suggestions. Proposals included converting identified centres into smart centres, setting up help desks, training local people to disseminate information about schemes and preparing standard operating procedures for business models.
