What Did CM Dhami Discuss at the NITI Aayog Meeting?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday in New Delhi, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the session, CM Dhami raised the critical concern regarding drainage systems in the rapidly urbanizing sectors of Uttarakhand and appealed to the Centre for the establishment of a sustainable national drainage policy to tackle this pressing issue.

He advocated for the inclusion of “lift irrigation” within the guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), highlighting Uttarakhand's unique topography, where merely 10 percent of the mountainous landscape is currently irrigated. Additionally, he underscored the necessity of connecting glacier-fed rivers with rain-fed rivers through the ‘River Linking Project’ and emphasized the construction of check dams and small reservoirs for rainwater conservation.

The Chief Minister also mentioned two significant upcoming religious events — the ‘Maa Nanda Raj Jat Yatra’ in 2026 and the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 2027 — and sought the Centre's assistance to host them in a grand and divine manner.

Highlighting the urgency of capitalizing on India’s demographic dividend, CM Dhami stated that the forthcoming decade is pivotal for the state. The Uttarakhand government is actively engaged in promoting self-employment to optimize this opportunity.

He noted that although the primary sector only accounts for 9.3 percent of the state's GDP, around 45 percent of the population relies on it. To counter this, the government has launched several high-value agricultural initiatives like the Apple Mission, Kiwi Mission, Dragon Fruit Mission, Millets Mission, and Aromatic Agriculture Promotion.

CM Dhami asserted that under PM Modi's robust leadership, India is swiftly progressing towards becoming a developed and self-sufficient nation by 2047. The Uttarakhand government remains dedicated to this vision, ensuring sound financial strategies and discipline, with the state’s economy growing approximately 1.5 times in the last three years.

In the NITI Aayog SDG Index for 2023-24, Uttarakhand achieved the top rank, and it also placed second in the CARE Ratings report among small states for governance and financial management. The state has implemented a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and has created over 23,000 government jobs for youth in the past 3.5 years.

Furthermore, he pointed out the successful hosting of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, themed as ‘Green Games’, in alignment with the PM’s Net Zero vision. Over 4,000 medals were crafted using recycled electronic waste. To enhance tourism, the state has introduced a comprehensive policy aimed at adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and high-end tourism, with groundwork already under way.