Migration from the mountainous regions is a serious issue facing the State. The State Government is taking steps to tackle this problem but public support is also necessary for this. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said this during the Devbhoomi Dialogue programme in Dehradun on Friday.
Rawat said that self-employment will help in tackling migration. Since government jobs are limited, there is need to maximise scope for self-employment and for this the youth especially will have to move forward with their skills.
He further said that to ensure that farmers get proper price for their produce, a direct marketing system will be facilitated to do away with middlemen. He said that bee-keeping can be encouraged in villages. If honey costing Rs 400 per kilogram is properly processed, the farmers can earn up to ten times in profit. The wax and pollen from such activity is also in high demand across the nation and abroad. Such honey is also high in medicinal value, he said. Rawat exhorted the youth to keep abreast of newspapers and literature related to various governmental schemes so that they can regularly get information about the progress and changes being made in various areas. In order to boost the cultivation of walnut in mountainous regions, the army is preparing a walnut nursery in the Malari area, he added. Regarding the efforts made to improve health services, Rawat said that Ghes and Himani villages in Chamoli district had been provided with telemedicine facility through which the villagers had been linked to AIIMS Delhi. Efforts are also underway to tackle tuberculosis in the state where medicines will be provided to patients at home to ensure regular medication. He further said that to improve medical treatment, a total of 47 e-hospitals had been established in Uttarakhand whereas the total number of such centres across the nation is 144. The Char Dham Yatra is also being enhanced with the provision of telemedicine facility. This year, on the bridle Yatra route, doctors are being posted every kilometre. A total of 1141 doctors have been appointed during the past one year in the state and walk in interviews of doctors are also being conducted on a weekly basis. Rawat also spoke in detail about the steps taken by the government to bring about improvement in the education system. He mentioned government initiatives like growth centres to facilitate enhanced economic activity. While stressing that the government maintains a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption, he stressed on the need to fight against corruption with the involvement of all citizens. The CM also felicitated youth, entrepreneurs and other personalities on the occasion.