Exhorting the non-resident Uttarakhandis to do something for their state, the Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat has said that Uttarakhand has got vast investment potential. He was addressing ‘Pravasi Panchayat-2017’, a programme organised by the Uttaranchal Utthaan Parishad at Baleram Brijbhushan Saraswati Shishu Mandir Inter College at Meerut on Sunday. The themes of the programme were ‘My village my pilgrimage’ and ‘let’s go towards villages’. He said that the nonresident Uttarakhandis can help the state government in its endeavor of stopping migration by investing in the state. Rawat listed tourism as one such area where large number of local people can be provided employment by starting ventures which need not a very big investment.
He suggested that the nonresident natives of the state should maintain a regular contact and dialogue with their villages, culture, local traditions and language. The CM expressed hope that the non residents can play a vital role in the development of the state. He also mentioned ‘ Selfie from my Village’ initiative of the state government in which non residents were urged to visit their respective villages with their families, take selfie and then post it on facebook and other social media platforms. On the occasion Rawat heaped praises on some talented youths who left their high paying jobs in cities like Delhi and Mumbai and started their own ventures in their native state. In this context he mentioned Goat Village, Ranjana Rawat and Mushroom lady Divya Rawat. The CM said that the state government is undertaking a project to plant Walnut and Chilgoza Pine trees in the remote and border areas of the state to stop migration and strengthen economy of the state. He stressed on usage and publicity of food products like sweet and biscuit made from finger millets and other local items as apart from being healthy their usage would strengthen local economy. Addressing the issue of migration, CM said that the state government has constituted a Migration commission. He said that the state government, local people and the nonresident Uttarakhandis should work hand in hand to pose a challenge to migration. Rawat praised the efforts of the Uttaranchal Utthaan Parishad for organizing the event.
The programme was attended by Cabinet Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, local representatives and large number of nonresident Uttarakhandis.