The BJP Government headed by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat completes three years in office today. When the BJP high command chose Rawat for the coveted post of CM by sidelining stalwarts like Major General (Retd) B C Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ many expressed apprehensions over the choice.
However in the last three years Rawat has proven his detractors wrong and taken bold decisions like making Gairsain the summer capital and creation of Char Dham Devsthanam board.
In an interaction with Gajendra Singh Negi of The Pioneer, he highlighted the achievements of his government and his plans for future. Here are the excerpts.
How do you rate performance of your Government in last three years?
Our Government has taken the state on the fast track of development. I can claim that in last three years we have fulfilled 75 percent of the promises made in our vision document which the party released ahead of assembly elections. This is a big achievement. We have performed splendidly in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes and got second position in the country in this respect.
We have adopted e- office system and started holding e -cabinets. The files are moving at a fast pace now. We have curtailed the seven desk system of file movement to four in secretariat. We have taken historical decision of constituting Char Dham Devsthanam board. I can claim with conviction that these three years would weigh heavy on the past ten years.
Corruption was a major issue on which your party targeted Congress in assembly elections. How your Government has tackled it?
Our government has adopted zero tolerance on corruption and it has yielded results. The corruption has reduced in governance. We have made the fourth floor (CM secretariat) free from the mafia. The mafia around the ministers is also finished.
How has the double engine government benefited Uttarakhand?
Ours is a triple engine government. With the help of union government, the all weather road and Rishikesh- Karnprayag rail link projects are going on at fast pace. Dehradun- Delhi expressway is also on anvil.
What is the status of agriculture sector and farmers in the state?
We are focusing on increasing the income of farmers and for it we are providing interest free loans to farmers and the farmer groups. The state has saved chemical fertilizers worth Rs 188 crore by adopting soil health cards. We are focusing on timely payment of farmers.
The State has launched Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana (AAUY) in health sector but is it facing implementation problems?
We have made certain changes like removing the referral system in AAUY. More than 1.2 lakh people have benefited from the scheme and 12000 life saving operations have been done.
Under the GST regime, the central government compensation to states would cease after 2022. What are the plans of the state to meet this challenge?
We are focusing on service sector to augment our income. The state is promoting Pirul (pine needle) based and solar power projects. My government is developing 83 growth centres in the state. The home stay scheme is also receiving very good response.
The opposition is targeting your government for failing to provide employment; what is the government doing for employment generation?
In last three years we have created 4 lakh new jobs. From investor’s summit alone 57000 jobs were created. Yes, the recruitment process in government jobs has got affected due to legal and other issues but we are sorting them out.
What is your Government’s plan for Kumbh Mela -2021?
We preparing for a mega Kumbh Mela. All the works barring one would be completed before December this year. We are focusing on a Green Kumbh this time.