In a grand celebration marking the Silver Jubilee of Uttarakhand’s statehood, Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the main ceremony at the Police Lines in Dehradun, where the Governor took the salute at the ceremonial parade and honoured distinguished citizens for their contributions to the state’s development.
Our correspondent reports that the programme began with the national song Vande Mataram, commemorating its 150th anniversary. The Governor and Chief Minister jointly released the Uttarakhand Police Journal 2025 and unveiled the Silver Jubilee Medal insignia. The event also featured a stunning motorcycle performance by the state police that received applause from thousands of spectators.
As part of the celebrations, eight eminent personalities were honoured with the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman 2025 for their outstanding achievements. The recipients included Padma Shri Jaspal Rana (shooting), Dev Ratudi (entrepreneurship and social service), late Tom Alter (acting and literature), late Sushila Baluni (statehood activist), late Gaura Devi (Chipko movement pioneer), late Khadag Singh Valdiya (geology), late Teelu Rauteli (folk heroine) and late Shailesh Matiyani (literature). Family members of the awardees accepted the honours on their behalf.
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Uttarakhand Silver Jubilee Parade
Governor Singh congratulated the people of Uttarakhand and paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs and statehood activists whose sacrifices paved the way for the creation of the state in 2000. He described the 25-year journey as one of “hard work, courage and collective achievement”.
Emphasising the importance of self-reliance, the Governor appealed to citizens to buy only Made in India products, saying that “we must choose goods that carry the labour of our people”. He added that the spirit of swadeshi was not just a call for freedom during the independence movement but also the foundation of India’s economic strength.
He urged the youth of Uttarakhand to take leadership in technology, innovation and startups, describing them as the driving force behind “Developed Uttarakhand, Developed India 2047”. He said the coming years would see Uttarakhand emerge as a model of balanced growth where “development and nature, modernity and tradition progress together”.
The Governor praised the discipline and professionalism of the state police, calling them the “silent guardians of Uttarakhand’s soul”. He commended their efforts in fighting drug abuse, tackling cybercrime and maintaining law and order in challenging terrain. He also highlighted the growing role of women in governance, education, sports and science, calling them “the backbone of Uttarakhand’s progress”.
Our correspondent adds that Chief Minister Dhami paid homage to the martyrs and soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation and remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for realising the dream of Uttarakhand’s creation and granting a special industrial package to strengthen its foundation.
During his address, the Chief Minister announced 11 major initiatives for the state’s next phase of growth, including:
A phased survey and settlement of all agricultural land within five years.
Establishment of a State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.
Expansion of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force for a drug-free Uttarakhand.
A welfare fund for midday meal mothers in government schools.
Introduction of a Farm Fencing Policy to protect crops.
A scheme for revival of traditional water sources.
Online skill courses and coaching for competitive exams.
Development of the Kedarkhand Mala Mission on the lines of Manaskhand.
Development of Rudraprayag as a model district.
Creation of Spiritual Economic Zones in Sharda Corridor and Anjanisain–Belakedar.
Special clinics for Type-1 diabetes in district hospitals.
The Chief Minister also lauded the performance of Uttarakhand Police in women’s safety and cybercrime prevention, noting that the state ranked fifth nationally in resolving POCSO and women-related cases. He said that the state’s annual growth rate of 12.69 per cent was four times higher than the national average, and Uttarakhand now leads the nation in farmer income and employment generation.
Dhami reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the state’s cultural and demographic identity while ensuring balanced progress. “The story of Uttarakhand is one of resilience, pride and progress,” he said. “Together, we will make it the finest state in the nation.”
