CM inspects Dehradun Science City construction work
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inspected the construction work on the Science City project at the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) and participated in the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) symposium.
Addressing the event, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the construction of the Dehradun Science City is progressing rapidly. In the coming years, this Science City will emerge as a leading centre of science, innovation, and research for students, researchers, and scientists not only in Uttarakhand but across the country. He stated that this Science City will provide state-of-the-art facilities to the youth, giving new wings to their dreams and ideas.
Inaugurating the community science radio stations “Vigyan Vani” (88.8 MHz), “Vigyan Drishyam,” and “Vigyan Dhara” under the “Vigyan Setu” initiative, the Chief Minister stated that these efforts will help disseminate complex laboratory knowledge to the remotest individuals in Uttarakhand.
Emphasising the need to develop leadership skills in technology, the Chief Minister noted that the state is currently celebrating Harela Week. Harela is not just a festival, but also a symbolic festival of faith in nature, commitment to environmental protection, and responsibility towards future generations. He said that, today, when the entire world is facing the challenges of climate change, global warming, and environmental crisis, the Harela festival sends the message to the entire world that development and nature can coexist. He added that, today, the entire world is undergoing an unprecedented technological transformation. Robots are now working in factories and hospitals. Artificial intelligence is taking human capabilities to new heights. Emerging technologies like data science, drone technology, semiconductors, and biotechnology are shaping the direction and condition of the world. At such a time, one must not only embrace this change but also lead it.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that today many states in the country are looking to Uttarakhand as a model of best practices in many areas. This includes the operation to safely rescue workers trapped in the Sillyara Tunnel, which was presented as best practice at the BRICS summit. Therefore, the government has decided to celebrate Disaster Management Day every year on November 28th. He said that the youth of Uttarakhand possess extraordinary talent and ingenuity. Therefore, an ecosystem in the state needs to be developed where this young talent receives the right direction so that they can make their mark globally.
The Chief Minister affirmed that the “Amrit Sankalp” of “Developed India 2047” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed before the nation, is based on science, technology, and research. That is why the Prime Minister has given a new mantra to the country’s scientists and youth by adding “Jai Anusandhan” to the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan”. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward with major initiatives like Digital India, Startup India, and the National Quantum Mission. Thanks to the Prime Minister’s efforts, India now has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. Meanwhile, through the Semiconductor Mission, India is on its way to becoming self-reliant in the fields of electronics and chip manufacturing.
He stated that the state government is fully committed to making Uttarakhand a global hub for science, technology, and modern research. Toward this end, the state’s first “Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy” has been implemented. The policy aims to develop a self-reliant ecosystem where youth are not merely job seekers, but instead become job creators through their innovative ideas. This policy will not confine science to the confines of laboratories; it will instead connect it with everyday life and become a powerful medium to reach the masses.
The Chief Minister emphasised the need to find local solutions to challenges.
He emphasised that Uttarakhand’s geographical conditions pose many daunting challenges. “However, the Himalayas are our greatest strength, and our biodiversity, invaluable medicinal plants, perennial water sources, organic agriculture, and rich cultural heritage are our true assets. Therefore, if we develop local and scientific solutions to our local problems, Uttarakhand can become a model of development for the entire country,” he declared. It is with this vision that the state government has formulated this new policy. The government is also developing a strong ecosystem that encourages technology, digital governance, research, and innovation in the state. Similarly, continuous work is being done to establish Uttarakhand as a “science-based knowledge economy” by promoting scientific research and quality education.
Announcing the development of a Startup Centre, the Chief Minister stated that the government is expanding the state’s Science and Innovation Centre, Labs on Wheels, Digital Libraries, Patent Information Centres, STEM Labs, and GIS-based modern technology systems. Efforts are also being made to promote future technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, semiconductors, and pre-incubation labs.
On this occasion, he also announced the provision of land for the development of a Startup Centre on the UCOST campus. The Chief Minister also planted a tree on the occasion.
Present on the occasion were Cabinet Minister Pradeep Batra, Sahaspur MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir, Secretary Nitesh Jha, Director General, UCOST, Prof Durgesh Pant, and Chairman of the Media Advisory Committee Prof Govind Singh, and Vice Chancellors of various universities, Heads of Departments, scientists and other dignitaries.
