Dehradun, December 17: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Jaunpur Sports and Cultural Development Festival on Tuesday at R.I.C.O. Garkhet, Nainbagh, Tehri Garhwal. The committee warmly welcomed the Chief Minister by honoring him with a coat and cap.
Announcements by the Chief Minister:
During the event, the Chief Minister announced:
- Construction of a 6-kilometer motor road from Dwarghat to Hingoati Bhadraj Temple.
- Construction of a 4-kilometer motor road from Aglad Thatyur Motor Road (at km 10) to Thakkar Kudao, Khas Kudao, and onward to Swail Chak.
- Establishment of a permanent helipad at Garkhet.
- Declaration of the Jaunpur Sports and Cultural Development Festival as a state-level fair.
Cultural and Developmental Initiatives:
The Chief Minister expressed his joy in participating in the festival, emphasizing its role in preserving and promoting sports, development, folk culture, and traditions for future generations. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call on the state’s foundation day to preserve its cultural heritage, languages, and traditions, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to this cause.
He further stated that fairs play a vital role in fostering love, unity, and community bonding, while also strengthening the cultural and social fabric. He appreciated the efforts of the state’s diaspora in keeping Uttarakhand’s culture alive overseas.
Government Efforts in Culture and Employment:
- Cultural Promotion:
- Uttarakhand Literature Pride Award: To encourage the creation of literature in local languages.
- Film Policy: Financial support for films in regional languages to promote cultural representation.
- Renovation of cultural and religious sites to enhance their grandeur.
- Employment Generation:
- Encouraging traditional games and preventing migration through comprehensive development efforts.
- Employment opportunities through dairy, beekeeping, agriculture, horticulture, and homestays.
- Over 19,000 government jobs provided in the past 3.5 years.
- Women-led self-help groups’ products gaining national and international recognition.
- “House of Himalaya” brand promoting high-quality hill products.
- Support for Women and Farmers:
- Over 1 lakh women have become “Lakhpati Didis,” with a target of 1.25 lakh.
- Interest-free loans up to ₹3 lakh for farmers.
Future Plans:
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing strict land laws, with inputs being sought from administration and governance levels. A draft of the land law will be prepared soon, and strict action will be taken against illegal land purchases in Uttarakhand.
Appreciation for the Festival:
The Chief Minister commended the organizers for preserving cultural heritage and passing it on to the next generation. He stated that such events play a significant role in strengthening the state’s identity.
Dhanuleti MLA Pritam Singh Panwar, on behalf of the regional public, thanked the Chief Minister for participating in the festival and presented a demand letter highlighting the region’s developmental needs.
