Dehradun, January 4, 2024
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new executive committee of the Uttaranchal Press Club at the IRDT auditorium in Survey Chowk on Saturday. The Chief Minister described the media as the fourth pillar of democracy and stated that every possible support is being extended to journalists for news reporting in the state. He announced an increase in the corpus fund of the Journalist Welfare Fund for the benefit of journalists.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to introduce a group insurance scheme for journalists. Additionally, he assured that arrangements would be made to facilitate accommodation and work for media personnel traveling from remote areas.
The Chief Minister highlighted the role of the media during the freedom struggle and the Uttarakhand state movement, where the state’s media became the voice of the people. He commended the Uttaranchal Press Club for its efforts in raising social awareness and spreading public welfare schemes.
He emphasized that everyone should participate in Uttarakhand’s development and shared that significant steps have been taken by the government in this direction. The state’s efforts have gained national recognition, with Uttarakhand securing the first position in achieving sustainable development goals as per NITI Aayog. The unemployment rate in the state has been reduced to 4.4%, and Uttarakhand is among the leading states in attracting investments, ranking first among Himalayan states.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the introduction of winter tourism for the first time in the state, which has shown positive results. This initiative has not only provided self-employment opportunities to local residents but has also strengthened their economy.
Reiterating his commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, he assured that this promise would soon be fulfilled. Efforts are also underway to introduce improved land laws to ensure the proper utilization of land purchased for specific purposes.
To keep Uttarakhand’s diaspora connected to their roots and encourage their comprehensive contribution to the state, a Pravasi Uttarakhandi Conference is scheduled for January 12, 2024. The Chief Minister paid tribute to the late journalist Girish Bhandari by observing two minutes of silence.
During the event, Bhupendra Kandari, the new President of the Uttaranchal Press Club, appreciated the government’s previous decisions for the welfare of journalists. Founding member Dr. Devendra Bhasin, Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari, Press Club General Secretary Surendra Dasila, Vice President Abhishek Kumar Mishra, former Presidents Naveen Thaledi, Vikas Dhulia, Chetan Gurung, and Ajay Rana, along with other Press Club officials and media personnel, were present at the event.
