Industries in Uttarakhand will receive 24-hour electricity supply from April. Additionally, industrial units in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector will be brought under insurance cover. Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this while speaking at an interactive programme for public involvement in the 2016-17 budget here on Wednesday.
The CM said that more than 500 model schools are being opened in the State while a Jagar Mahavidhyalaya will also be set up in the State, said Rawat while requesting folk singer Pritam Bhartwan to take up the responsibility for facilitating this.
Representatives of various sectors presented their suggestions on the occasion. Industries Association of Uttarakhand head Panjak Gupta recommended skill development course for school dropout children along with provision of insurance cover for MSME units. The CM directed the technical education department to draft an action plan for soft skill and advance skills training for school dropouts. He also directed the industry department to draft provision in the new MSME policy for providing insurance cover to units in the sector. Cabinet minister Yashpal Arya said that a skill development scheme is being undertaken for rag picker children in Udham Singh Nagar district. Hotelier SP Kochar stressed on the need for bringing about improvements in the condition of the tourist destinations Sahastradhara, Robbers Cave in Dehradun and Kempty Falls in Mussoorie. The CM directed the tourism secretary to ensure all necessary action to facilitate the improvement sought.
Responding to a question raised by retired captain Omprakash Pokhriyal regarding measures planned for mitigation migrtiaon of people, the CM said that the government is laying special focus on agriculture and allied sector, local handicrafts, eco-tourism, health and education facilities with more than 100 initiatives being taken in these spheres as part of its measures to curtail migration. Master craftsmen and women are being prepared in order to encourage local skill and products. Efforts have also been initiated for marketing of local products with the State’s native foodcraft also being publicised by the State Government. Various activities have also been started in the eco-tourism sector with new avenues being provided for mountain biking, mountaineering and other such activities in the State. A mountaineering training centre has also been started at Munsyari in Pithoragarh district, he added. The CM said that a water regulatory commission will also be formed in Uttarakhand while a concrete plan is also being prepared to encourage organic cultivation in the State. Cluster based agriculture will be encouraged for this purpose, he added. Rawat said that soil will be tested and certified for undertaking of organic agriculture in Uttarakhand. Ten development blocks have been identified in the State under the first stage of organic farming development, said Rawat. The chief minister also responded to various suggestions made by people from different sections of society. He also informed the gathering about the various measures being executed or planned for facilitating development in spheres like minority welfare among others. Replying to a question regarding child beggars, the CM said that the State Government has initiated a scheme in Udham Singh Nagar district wherein children involved in begging are being provided school education. Considering the success of the scheme in Udham Singh Nagar, the State is planning to start similar schemes in Haridwar and Dehradun, he added. Panchayat members and public representatives laong with members of the industrial fraternity, students and activists also raised various queries and made suggestions during the interaction with the CM.
State Finance minister Indira Hridayesh appreciated the initiative of the chief minister for encourage involvement of the public in drafting of the budget as it would also help the authorities to better understand public sentiment. Many suggestions are being received which will also be included in the budget, she said. The Central Government has not provided any financial assistance yet to Uttarakhand for the Ardh Kumbh Mela. The government is making effort to draft a budget in such a manner that the execution of developmental schemes is not hampered by budgetary shortage, she said. later in the evening, the CM and some of his cabinet colleagues also held a meeting with representatives of various political parties regarding the 2016-17 Budget.