The people of Uttarakhand deserve appreciation considering that after the June 2013 disaster, the State has been able to achieve a leading position among Indian States in the aspect of pace of development. After the State of Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand has become the second State in India where 90 per cent of the population is being provided food security, averred the Chief Minister Harish Rawat hereon Sunday while unveiling foundation stones of various construction and development works in the area.
Addressing the local public at a programme held in the Dharmpur Vidhan Sabha constituency in Dehradun, the Chief Minister said that there is no such weaker section of society which is not being provided financial assistance from the State Government in the form of pension. The State Government has set a target of facilitating social pension to about 10 lakh beneficiaries in the State. Rawat said that studies conducted by various independent bodies had shown that Uttarakhand was among the leading States in India with an appreciable pace of developmental works.
The NITI Aayog has also stated that Uttarakhand has an important place among the six Indian States which are progressing with a growth rate of more than 12 per cent. He further said that the world bank had also stated that Uttarakhand has an atmosphere conducive for industry and commercial activities among Indian States.
Recently, a study conducted by ASSOCHAM has also placed Uttarakhand in a leading position from the view point of developmental activities.
Addressing the women present on the occasion, Rawat said that the State Government accords respect of woman power and is with them at all stages of their life from birth to old age. The State Government also provides a sum of Rs5,000 to financially weaker family in case of the birth of a girl child in the family. Among various measures, the Gaura Devi scheme is being implemented in Uttarakhand to provide further encouragement to girl education.
Under the Nanda Devi Yojana, financial assistance is being provided to women from poor families on the occasion of their marriage. Apart from this, necessary assistance is also being provided to women during considering different aspects like pregnancy, nutritious died and other such facilitation. Pension is also being facilitated for women aged more than 60 years who are also being provided the facility of free travel in the buses of the state roadways.
Further, old people are also being provided with the opportunity of undertaking pilgrimage free of cost under the Mere Buzurg Mere Teerth. The CM said that Ganga Gai Yojana is being implemented by the state government for economically weaker widows who are provided cows. The Indira Amma Bhojanalaya Yojana has also been initiated keeping in mind the desired welfare of women, he said.
Till about two years ago, the number of people benefitting from social pension was recorded at 1.84 lakh which has now increased to more than seven lakh. The target of the state government is to increase the number of such pension beneficiaries to about 10 lakh, he averred.