Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday called upon industry leaders to actively participate in Uttarakhand’s development through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives during the “Uttarakhand CSR Dialogue” held at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office.
Welcoming representatives of industry groups, central public sector enterprises, CSR partners, and social organisations, the Chief Minister said contributions made under CSR in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand could play a significant role in ensuring that the benefits of development reach the last person in society. Referring to religious scriptures, he noted the special significance attached to charitable contributions made at pilgrimage destinations and urged industries operating in Uttarakhand to utilise a larger share of their CSR funds within the state.
He described the event as more than a formal meeting, calling it a shared commitment to bringing positive change to the lives of people living in the remotest parts of the state. During the programme, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with several leading companies for projects related to skill development, road safety, women’s empowerment, rural development, and education, while several new initiatives were also announced.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand, being a mountainous border state, faces development challenges different from those of other states. He stressed the need for a development model that balances employment generation, social development, and environmental conservation, adding that the corporate sector’s expertise, modern management practices, and social responsibility could make a significant contribution toward achieving this goal.
Highlighting the state’s investment climate, he said the Global Investors Summit 2023 attracted investment proposals worth over ₹3.56 lakh crore, of which projects worth more than ₹1 lakh crore have already entered the implementation stage. He added that the government has introduced more than 30 policies, including a single-window clearance system, industrial policy, logistics policy, startup policy, and MSME policy, to create a business-friendly environment. A ₹200 crore venture fund has also been established to support startups.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption, stating that action has been taken against more than 200 corrupt officials and employees in recent years, helping create a transparent and reliable environment for investors. He affirmed the government’s commitment to making Uttarakhand one of India’s leading investment-friendly states.
During the programme, MoUs were signed with several prominent organisations, including Kia, Hyundai, Infosys Foundation, ONGC, ITC, Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited, Aditya Birla Capital, Finolex, and Panasonic, for various development projects.
The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers Ganesh Joshi and Khajan Das, MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vice Chairman Vishwas Dabar, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, SIDCUL Managing Director Dr. Saurabh Gaharwar, and representatives from industry and government.
