An interactive session ‘ Ek Sawal Ek Sujhaw’ was held at the residence of State Chief Minister Harish Rawat on the occasion of local festival ‘ Ghee Sangrand’ on Monday.
Responding to a question Rawat said that the unemployed youth of the State should overcome the mindset of Government jobs and think on the lines of self employment. He said that State Government is building 100 markets on the char Dham Yatra route to promote employment. The CM said that any Government would succeed only when maximum participation of people of State is ensured in the Government schemes. He was of the view that the maximum number of people should avail the facility of ‘Samadhan Portal’ of State Government. On the issue of conservation programme for culture, folk instruments and folk artists, Rawat said that the State Government is committed in this direction. “Folk dance Jhumelo is like soul of Uttarakhand we plan to promote it as umbrella brand for other folk arts as well”, said Rawat. He informed about the pension scheme for the folk artists. The CM said that soon local languages would be introduced in Class X and XI as optional subjects.
Former information commissioner NS Napalchyal emphasised on the need for giving priorities to infrastructure development in the border areas. lt General TPS Rawat (Rtd) expressed concern on the demographic changes in the mountainous areas of State. Social worker Avdesh Kaushal suggested inclusion of NGOs in different commissions and committees. Sandeep Sahni of Uttarakhand Hotel Association advocated for promotion of hotel industry in the State. In reply to a question CM said that the State Government is working on a plan to strengthen women self help groups and help of banks and cooperative organisations is being taken in this endeavor. Rawat said that place for marketing the goods of State are earmarked in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and lucknow. Advocate Prithvi Raj Chauhan advocated for setting up a bench of High court in Dehradun. Pankaj Gupta of Industries association suggested that the industrial activities in the State would get boost if all 2100 bank branches of State promote setting up of only two industrial units in their areas. Celebrated folk singer Narendra Sinh Negi highlighted the need to revamp the Culture Art and literature council of State and setting a local languages academy in the State. On his suggestion CM assured that the council would be revamped in a month’s time and said that an academy for local languages would be set up in a portion of ‘Sanskriti Bhawan’. In the programme former MlA Kunwar Singh Negi said that such employment generation schemes should be launched which are linked with Forest Panchayats in the State. Principal Secretary Umakant Panwar said that the menace of monkeys and stray dogs is a cause of serious concern.