Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi has termed migration from the villages bordering the international border as a potential threat to the security of the country. He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the ceremonial parade organised at the reserve police line on the occasion of the State Foundation Day on Sunday.
Expressing grave concern on the high incidence of migration from the mountainous areas of the State especially those near the China and Nepal border, the Governor said that the Government should provide basic facilities and employment opportunities on priority basis in these areas so that the migration is checked.
He said that it is in the territorial interest of the country to develop these strategically important villages. Raising concern on the fact that even after 14 years of establishment the mountainous areas of the State lack in educational and medical facilities Qureshi said that lot of effort is needed in this direction.
He advocated setting up of a shrine board for the Char Dhams of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotari and Yamnotri and highlighted a need to connect them by a tunnel. Advising the leaders of the political parties to shun their differences in the interest of people of the State, Qureshi said that there should be a limit to the political rivalry. Appreciating the efforts of the policemen during the last year’s disaster and their role in the ensuring a safe Nanda Raj Jat Yatra. He strongly condemned the manner in which the lower ranks of the police force are dealt with as they work for long hours and are given no facilities and leaves. The Governor advocated for a mandatory 2 month annual leave for the policemen and overtime allowance.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that the State has achieved progress in many fronts in last 14 years but added that lot needs to be done in the fields of education and health. He said that the Government is committed to give the benefit of development to the last person of the society.
He declared that special pension would be given to the Teerth Purohits and those above 60 years of age. The CM said that the State Government has setup a target of 15 per cent increase in the tourism sector and announced a new tourism scheme called ‘Himalaya Darshan’.
He informed that the Government has set up a target to construct 7,000 kms of road network and improvement in 6,000 km of existing roads in the year 2015. Rawat said that Rs 3,000 crore would be spending on riverfront development in the cities similarly the State has demanded Rs 10,000 crore from the Central Government for Ganga project. The CM said that the Panchayati Raj act would be implemented in the State within next six months.
Appreciating the State Police for their efforts in the disaster relief works the CM said that two more battalions of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) would be raised with provision of 30 per cent reservation for women. Paying glowing tributes to the statehood activists the he said that the Government would provide reservations in jobs for their dependants and would adopt villages of prominent statehood activists.