Chief Minister Harish Rawat is determined to take his pet scheme Indira Amma Bhojanalaya to the nook and corner of the State. While inaugurating a new one at Chardham Bus Station in Rishikesh on Saturday, he said his Government will open at least 100 more such canteens across the State to enable the common men to have nutritious lunch at wallet-friendly prices. He said that one thing is required and that is land required to house the project. “Such canteens would come up soon after the district panchayats, municipalities and nagar panchayats provide space for the purpose,” he said.
Aside from providing the people with nutritious lunches, the scheme, deemed as a dream one of the Chief Minister, has been reviving the traditional dishes of Uttarakhand which were dying out fast in the state where they originated and thrived. Besides, the scheme is also bettering the economic condition of the women belonging to the self-help groups that have been involved in it.
CM also inaugurated e-Rickshaw and Rent-a-Bike scheme in Rishikesh and distributed cows and calves to five people.
CM informed that the one in Rishikesh was the 20th Indira Amma Canteen in the state. “Those now running are doing good. Most of them are exceeding our expectations. This is what has charged us to go for more,” he said.
Further, CM stressed that scenario in Uttarakhand might see a sea-change on the ground if they would rope in more and more all-women self -help groups, Mahila Mangal Dals and various governmental and non- governmental organizations working for the women.
“We plan to develop all-women SHGs as commercial centres in rural and urban areas. Over 100 all-women SHGs have performed exceedingly well in the last one year,” he said.
He appealed to the people to use the state’s rural products at least once in a week. “We are trying to make available Chaulay ladoos as a Parsad to devotees. The all- women SHGs are providing us with the laddoo in Badrinath. Besides, we must promote our handicrafts,” CM said.
He said that the Char Dham Yartra going on in full swing tells a success story of the ceaseless efforts being made over the past two years. “We have been successful to spread the message that Uttarakhand is safe for pilgrims and tourists across the globe. A record number of pilgrims are visiting the state. It rains every year and spawns road blocks. But this time, the blocked roads are being opened soon after they are blocked thanks to the thriving system we have put into motion. Things are smooth subsequently,” CM said.
Rawat said Uttarakhand could be transformed through change of perspectives. “Village and the poor are the focal points of our policies. Uttarakhand has become a front runner state in the context of social security pensions. We have increased the amount of social pensions from `400 to `1000. Beneficiaries of pension have increased from 1.74 lakh to seven lakh. We are providing bonus on the cultivation of Mandua, Jhangora, Gahath and the like. Bonus is also being given on tree plantation and milk production. This would combine to help the State stride ahead,” he said.
Tourism Minister & GMVN MD Dinesh Dhanai, Commissioner Garhwal Chandra Singh Napchayal and DM Dehradun Ravinath were among those present at the inaugural function.