Dehradun/Mussoorie: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed a tribute programme virtually on Wednesday at Shaheed Sthal, Jhulaghar, Mussoorie, organized in memory of the activists who were martyred during the Uttarakhand statehood movement. Paying homage to the statehood activists who lost their lives in the Mussoorie firing incident, he said that the dream of a separate Uttarakhand state was realized because of their struggle, perseverance, sacrifice, and dedication.
The Chief Minister said that the land of Mussoorie has witnessed the struggle and sacrifices made during the Uttarakhand statehood movement. In 1994, thousands of activists were holding peaceful demonstrations in protest against the Khatima firing incident. He said that the sacrifice of the martyred activists would remain immortal in the memories of every resident of Uttarakhand. He added that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to make the younger generation aware of the struggle for statehood and the contribution of the activists.
The Chief Minister said that women also played an important role in the statehood movement. The state government is continuously working for the honour and welfare of the activists and their dependents. A 10 percent horizontal reservation is being provided to activists and their dependents in government jobs, while the pension for dependents of martyred activists has been increased to ₹5,500 per month.
He said that the pension for activists who were jailed or injured during the movement has been increased to ₹7,000 per month, while the pension for active activists has been increased to ₹5,500 per month. The pension for completely bedridden activists with disabilities has also been increased to ₹30,000 per month. Free education is being provided to up to two children of activists, while activists are also being provided free travel on Transport Corporation buses.
The Chief Minister said that the government has taken several important decisions, including 30 percent horizontal reservation for women in government jobs, implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, a stringent anti-cheating law, and a strict land law. Through a transparent recruitment process, more than 34,000 young people have been provided government jobs over the past five years.
He said that anti-conversion and anti-riot laws have been implemented to protect Uttarakhand’s identity and culture. At the same time, road, rail, ropeway, and air connectivity is being expanded to border areas. The government is also placing special emphasis on increasing local employment and self-employment opportunities for young people.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s resolve is to ensure that no young person is forced to migrate in search of employment, no village remains deprived of development, and the state’s identity and culture remain protected. He said that the government is moving forward with the goal of making every village self-reliant and prosperous, providing work for every hand, and employment opportunities for every young person.
