In the coming times, the Gauchar Mela in Chamoli will also become part of the international festivity calendar, said Chief Minister Harish Rawat. He was addressing the gathering at the Gauchar Mela venue in Chamoli district on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Gauchar and Jauljivi fairs are consistently progressing towards establishing their identity as examples of fairs also depicting a glimpse of the the State’s rich culture, local agricultural produce and products apart from the developmental efforts of the State. Arriving as per her schedule to attend the Gauchar Mela here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister went through and viewed the traditional folk handicrafts items and varied other local produce while also inaugurating or unveiling the foundation for the Uttarakhand Bhasha-Boli Sansthan and various other developmental schemes totaling in cost to about `10.15 crore. The Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker and Karnprayag MlA Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri was also among those present on the occasion along with the Chief Minister.
Addressing the public at the fair, the Chief Minister said that the Gauchar Mela was also a historically important aspect of the State which provides a genuine glimpse of the rich culture of the State. He said, “The local products of the state have a considerable market. There is need for making a concrete road0-map for the organisation of such Melas in the State,” said the Chief Minister. Expressing good wishes on the opening of the Uttarakhand Bhasha-Boli Sansthan, Rawat said that this will be developed in the form of a good institution which can also become an example for the other Indian states to follow. “Keeping in line with the core sentiment behind the Uttarakhand Statehood movement, the Vidhan Sabha building has been constructed at Gairsain. Rising up after the terrible disaster of 2013, the state is now making progressing on the path of development and has even achieved a position for itself among the the six Indian states stated to be making more progress than the rest. Our aim is to eradicate poverty and stall the migration from rural mountainous areas of Uttarakhand. In order to achieve the desired level of economic development of the state, we will have also have to develop handicrafts and such native aspects along with education and agriculture. Emphasis needs to be laid on agriculture and in order to encourage progressive farming, the state government has come up with various concrete schemes. Markets with proper rates have been provided for traditional crops like Mandua (finger millet), Jhangora, Gahat, Kala Bhatt (black soya bean) and other such crops. In addition to this, for the convenience of the tourists, the State Government had brought the homestay scheme under which about 1,000 tourist houses will be constructed based on local culture. About 15 lakh people visited the Char Dham and other shrines in out State this year. By further developing tourism related facilities, the State Government has set a target of attracting between 30 to 40 lakh tourist in the year 2017 to the state. Further, the state will also develop 500 school in to model schools as part of work in the field of education. The State has also set a target of generating employment for about 50,000 people through the means of small, cottage industries, handlooms and handicrafts. Poverty will be eradicated from the state of Uttarakhand by the year 2022,” averred the Chief Minister. He also went on to inform the people gathered in the fair, about the various Government schemes and facilities implemented for the welfare of women and the development of children among other aspects.
The Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Dr Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri also expressed his views on the occasion which also saw a number of regional and local public representatives among others including the visitors to the Gauchar Mela.