The Governor Krishan Kant Paul in his maiden address on Friday to the fourth elected Assembly of the State that marked the commencement of the first session of the newly elected House has unveiled the BJP -helmed Government’s vision of the State while announcing several things, including the re-introduction of lokayukta Act-2011, Transfer Act-2011 and Right to Service Act-2011. Besides, the Governor mentioned the State Government’s commitment to make Gairsain the Summer Capital of the State. The State Government also vowed to stop migration from the hills to the plains, assuring to provide more avenues of employment aside from revamping agriculture. By way of paying tribute to the martyrs for the cause of Uttarakhand as a State and to the statehood activists who sacrificed a lot when the movement was on, the State Government would build a giant museum.
The address has made it clear that Trivendra Singh Rawat Government is committed to rising to the soaring expectations of the people for a responsive Government, determined to fulfill the long-pending demands of the appointment of lokayukta and a transparent transfer policy aside from the emotive Capital transfer demand. Interestingly, the Congress members now in the opposition have chosen to be silent when the Governor unfolded the developmental vision of the new State Government.
Observers say that the Governor’s address stressing on eliminating corruption flourishing in the form of doing favours in the maters of transfers and postings has made it clear that such favoritism being showered in lieu of wads of money is a thing of the past.
Besides, the Governor’s address laid emphasis on the education policy being reviewed and revised by the new State Government with girls’ hostel in each of the districts being opened. Besides, the State Government would prepare syllabus with stress on imparting quality education to enable the students to take on the mounting challenges coming in the fast-changing education arena. The State Government has also vowed to stop commercialisation of education and stamp out corruption in the realm education. The State Government has again pitched for promoting research on Sanskrit, Vastu science, astrology and the like.
Another sector that has found prominent mention in the speech is health. The State Government has committed itself through the Governor’s speech to open Pt Deen Dayal hospitals in each of the districts and also to distribute free medicines among the economically unprivileged section of the society.
Besides, the State Government has committed to initiate Deen Dayal Integrated New Tourism scheme on the pattern of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali scheme. To boost tourism, the State Government would open tourist guide training centres. The State Government being determined to promote medical tourism, a slew of health resorts and yoga / Ayurveda centres would be established.
The medical infrastructure of the Government –run hospitals would be modernized with addition of the State of the art facilities. Aside from equipping the existing medical colleges of the State with more facilities, the State Government would go for opening new medical colleges. The State Government would also strive to promote Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Yunani and Naturopathy. Besides, the problem of acute crunch of doctors plaguing the health system would be solved promptly.
To make agriculture more employment- oriented, the State Government would imbibe modern and scientific techniques. Stress would be laid on regular surveying of the agricultural land and developing a research system to ensure that the farming is revamped in tune with the spirit of time and the farmers earn more. This aside, the State Government would promote organic farming, herbal and flower cultivation through cluster system. The State Government would take steps to have the agricultural lands protected from the intruding wild animals. Milk production would be boosted too with several incentives being given. The State Government would also ensure that the farmers get guaranteed markets for their produce.
On the pattern of the Central Government’s initiative to link villages with road heads, the State Government would expedite construction of roads to give road connectivity to all the villages.
To boost industrial prospects of the State, the State Government would organise national and international level investment fairs to enthuse the entrepreneurs to step in.
The State Government has also vowed to formulate a transparent mining policy involving construction materials like stone chips. It would also encourage e-governance to make things move faster.
Resolved to curb crimes of all kinds now happening in the State thick and fast, the State Government would strive to make police more professional through organising training programmes on investigation, crime control, usage of modern weapon and cyber crime.
The ex-servicemen and ex-paramilitary personnel have not been left out too as far as the State Government’s roadmap is concerned. They would be provided jobs, the State Government assured.
The State Government assured to constitute a grievance redressal cell to deal with salary disparity among the employees. In view of natural disaster befalling the Himalayan State, the State Government would strengthen the disaster management system and enhance its capability to deal with calamities.
State would provide 50 percent concession to the senior citizens and the women who would commute in the Government-run buses.
Besides, the State Government has vowed to provide free lPG connection to the families entitled to the facility to ensure smoke- free environment for them.
Pantnagar, Naini saini, Gauchar and Chinyalisaur airports would be expanded to pave the way for the introduction of regular flights. More helipads will come up too to promote tourism and pilgrimage and to tackle disaster scenarios.
To bring new rail lines and to expand the existing tracks, the State Government would negotiate with the Centre.
Based on the pattern of the Centre-envisaged smart cities, the State Government would establish Atal Adarsh Grams at nyay panchayat levels.