Dehradun: At an Independence Day programme held at the Secretariat premises, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan extended greetings to the people of the state and the Secretariat family and paid respectful tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs. He said Independence Day is not merely a celebration but an occasion to remember the responsibility of nation-building.
The Chief Secretary said that during Uttarakhand’s 25-year journey, significant progress has been made in education, healthcare, roads, electricity, drinking water, tourism and infrastructure. However, challenges such as migration, employment, healthcare and education in remote areas, disaster risks and protection of the Himalayan environment still require sustained efforts.
Presenting the goal of “Developed Uttarakhand along with Developed India,” he said Uttarakhand should be built into a state where young people in the hills can find dignified employment in their own villages, women become self-reliant and every citizen has access to better education and healthcare facilities.
The Chief Secretary emphasised good governance and results-oriented administration among officers and employees. He said the administration must move beyond being confined to files and work towards delivering tangible results. He also stressed the use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital governance and data analytics.
Highlighting the need to promote the local economy and rural entrepreneurship, he stressed connecting millets, local agricultural products, horticulture, medicinal plants, handicrafts and organic products with markets. He said efforts should be made to transform young people from job seekers into job creators.
The Chief Secretary described Himalayan and environmental protection as an integral part of development and emphasised disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure and a development model suited to the Himalayan region. He also highlighted the need to develop tourism in a responsible, sustainable and high-value manner.
Concluding his address, the Chief Secretary called upon officers and employees to make dedication to duty, transparency, innovation and sensitivity the foundation of their work culture. He said that every decision should be in the interest of Uttarakhand, every effort in the public interest and every action directed towards building a developed Uttarakhand.
