Dehradun: On the occasion of Independence Day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hoisted the national flag on Saturday at the state-level main समारोह held at Parade Ground in Dehradun. He paid tribute to immortal martyrs, brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, and freedom fighters, and extended Independence Day greetings to the people of the state.
During the समारोह, the Chief Minister honoured the families of freedom fighters. He also presented the Chief Minister’s Medal for Meritorious Service to 14 police officers and personnel and honoured 13 sportspersons who have delivered outstanding performances at national and international levels.
The Chief Minister said that the state government stands firmly with disaster-affected families with complete sensitivity. Efforts are being made to provide relief to affected people, ensure better treatment for the injured, and restore damaged roads, bridges, drinking-water systems and power lines at the earliest.
He said that a target has been set to make Uttarakhand a developed state by 2035. Along with expanding road, rail and ropeway connectivity, work on the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail project, Delhi–Dehradun Expressway and various dam projects is being accelerated.
The Chief Minister stressed strengthening the startup ecosystem, providing markets for local products and expanding self-employment opportunities to create employment for young people. He said that, along with incubation centres, a ₹200 crore venture fund has been established.
Seven Major Announcements by the Chief Minister
- Special industrial parks will be established in Chamoli, Pauri and Almora.
- The state’s first Youth Commission will be established.
- Additional assistance will be provided to youth from border villages, ex-servicemen and Agniveers for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
- The deadline for regularisation of Category-3 and Category-4 land will be extended, and landholding rights will be granted.
- The state contribution under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana will be increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.
- The Chief Minister’s Youth Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship Promotion Scheme will be launched for young people aged 18 to 30. It will provide free training and a government subsidy of up to 30% of the bank loan amount.
- A Children’s Bravery Award will be introduced from this year to honour courageous children of the state.
The Chief Minister said the government’s goal is to build an Uttarakhand where development goes hand in hand with heritage, employment with solutions to migration, and modernisation with the strengthening of culture and identity.
