Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government is fully committed to making women, youth and rural entrepreneurs self-reliant. On Friday, the Chief Minister inaugurated Chaupal-2026 under the Chief Minister’s Udyamshala Scheme at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan located at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office. He said that through the scheme, more than 13,000 entrepreneurs across the state have received support so far, while more than 8,000 women entrepreneurs and members of self-help groups have been connected with entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities.
During the inaugural session, the Chief Minister announced the opening of a state-level marketing centre at the IT Park in Dehradun’s 13 villages for marketing products made by self-help groups from all districts of the state. He said Uttarakhand’s villages are no longer merely participants in the state’s development but are also playing an important role in building a self-reliant Uttarakhand through their capabilities and hard work.
He said the youth and women of the state possess skills and a strong desire to achieve something meaningful. Local products also have significant potential to reach markets across India and around the world. What is needed is to provide the right direction and an appropriate platform for this talent. With this vision, the Chief Minister’s Udyamshala Scheme is being expanded. The government’s objective is to ensure that Uttarakhand’s youth become job creators rather than job seekers, while strengthening the economic condition of farmers and women.
The Chief Minister said that under the scheme, rural entrepreneurs are being provided training, financial assistance, technical guidance and support in connecting with markets to help them start and expand their businesses. He said that through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, more than 500,000 rural women in the state have been connected with more than 70,000 self-help groups. More than 300,000 women have successfully become Lakhpati Didis.
He said women in the state are turning hill spices, mandua (finger millet), jhangora (barnyard millet), pulses, honey, pickles, jams, handicrafts, woollen products and local art into businesses. The government is continuously working to take these products to major markets across the country. In this direction, an umbrella brand called House of Himalayas has been created.
The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the mantra of promoting local products and connecting them with global markets. The state government is working to implement this vision on the ground. Facilities such as rural haats, marketing centres, collection centres and agricultural service centres are being strengthened so that farmers and entrepreneurs can access better markets and receive fair prices for their products.
He said one of the major objectives of promoting rural entrepreneurship is also to curb migration. The government wants to ensure that young people are not forced to leave their villages in search of employment. He said, “If the villages are strong, Uttarakhand will be strong.” In this direction, livelihood and employment opportunities are being increased by connecting extremely poor rural families with income-generating activities through the Gramothan Project.
The Chief Minister said Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Chaupal programmes are being organized across all 13 districts of the state. Their objective is to take information about government schemes to as many people as possible and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive their benefits. Publicity vans are also being sent to villages to spread awareness about the scheme at the grassroots level.
During the programme, the Chief Minister honoured Lakhpati Didis and women entrepreneurs. He also released a book and annual report of the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission. In addition, he inaugurated the Integrated Agriculture Cluster Infrastructure Training and Module, the Infant and Young Child Feeding Module, and the Module on Prevention and Management of Anaemia among Women and Children.
Cabinet Ministers Bharat Chaudhary, Ganesh Joshi and Khajan Das, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLAs Umesh Sharma Kau and Savita Kapoor, Rural Development Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal and other concerned officials were present on the occasion.
