Uttarakhand Best State in India
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated his commitment to make Uttarakhand the best-performing state in India with the collective support of its 1.25 crore citizens. He made the statement during a special session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly held as part of the state’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister delivered an extensive address reviewing the state’s journey from its formation in 2000 to the present. He traced the evolution of governance, development, and people’s aspirations over the past 25 years and expressed confidence that the coming decade would mark Uttarakhand’s transformation into a model state.
Dhami acknowledged the contributions of all former chief ministers, including Nityanand Swami, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, B.C. Khanduri, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Trivendra Singh Rawat, and Tirath Singh Rawat. He said each had laid a foundation for progress — from industrial growth and administrative stability to reconstruction after the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy.
The Chief Minister recalled that he assumed office in July 2022, barely seven months before the Assembly elections, amid the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government stabilised administration and re-energised development. “The people of Uttarakhand created history by re-electing the same government with a decisive mandate,” Dhami said, adding that the administration is working with full commitment to fulfil the dreams of the statehood activists.
Highlighting key achievements, Dhami said over 30 new policies had been introduced to promote employment, tourism, and industry. “Due to these reforms, Uttarakhand ranked first in the NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goals Index 2023–24,” he said. He added that the state’s economy, which was ₹14,501 crore at the time of its formation, has now reached ₹3.78 lakh crore, while per capita income has grown 18 times to around ₹2.74 lakh.
Our correspondent adds that Dhami credited the double-engine government for declaring Gairsain as the summer capital and attracting ₹3.56 lakh crore in investment proposals through the Global Investors Summit 2023.
The Chief Minister said his government had prioritised farmers’ welfare, with interest-free loans up to ₹3 lakh and up to 80% subsidy on farm machinery through the Farm Machinery Bank scheme. On tourism, he said efforts were underway to promote religious, adventure, wellness, eco, and film tourism, citing ongoing projects at Kedarkhand, Manaskhand, and the Rishikesh–Haridwar corridor.
Dhami praised the state’s youth for excelling in sports, noting that Uttarakhand secured 103 medals and ranked seventh in the National Games. He also cited major infrastructure projects, including the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line, upcoming ropeways to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib, and the development of 18 heliports, of which 12 are already operational under the UDAN scheme.
Discussing health, he said every district would have a medical college, with super-speciality departments in Dehradun, Haldwani, and Srinagar, and a modern cancer institute under construction in Haldwani.
Dhami emphasised transparency in governance, saying, “No corrupt person is protected in Uttarakhand today.” He said strict action had been taken against more than 200 officials, including IAS and PCS officers, under the zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
He also highlighted landmark laws, including India’s first Uniform Civil Code, anti-conversion and anti-riot laws, and strict land-use reforms, along with the abolition of the Madrasa Board, all aimed at preserving the cultural identity of Devbhoomi.
Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister said, “With the unwavering support of our people, we will transform Uttarakhand into the best state in the country. This is our unshakable and alternative-less resolve.” He also thanked President Droupadi Murmu for addressing the Assembly and paid tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, statehood activists, and the martyrs who shaped Uttarakhand’s destiny.
