CM Dhami Raises Key State Issues at Central Zonal Council Meeting, Seeks Policy Flexibility and Centre’s Support

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami actively participated in the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council held on Tuesday in Varanasi under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. The meeting was attended by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, and other ministers.

During the meeting, CM Dhami highlighted several critical issues related to Uttarakhand’s strategic and socio-economic development. He emphasized the need for relaxation in certain policy provisions in favor of Uttarakhand and urged the Centre to extend greater support for the development of border areas, especially regarding road connectivity, communication infrastructure, and logistics.

Support Sought for Border and Mountainous Areas

The CM underlined the strategic importance of Uttarakhand due to its international borders, stating that improved infrastructure in border villages is essential for national security and for preventing outmigration. He requested enhanced support from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and sought the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme to improve facilities in remote areas.

He also appealed for the expansion of communication services in frontier regions through schemes like BharatNet, 4G rollout, and satellite-based connectivity.

Proposals for Institutions and Policy Relaxations

CM Dhami proposed the establishment of:

• A High-Level Glacier Study Centre to monitor climate change effects
• An Institute for Biodiversity Conservation
• An International Adventure Sports Training Centre to promote adventure tourism in the state

He also called for:

• A one-time allocation of central grant under the PM Awas Yojana
• Additional support for better implementation of the PM Gram Sadak Yojana
• Centre’s cooperation for organizing the Nanda Rajjat Yatra in 2026 and the Kumbh Mela in 2027

State Achievements and Challenges

Highlighting the unique challenges of the state, the CM noted that 71% of Uttarakhand is forested and over 80% is mountainous, which limits economic activities and increases vulnerability to natural disasters. Despite these constraints, the state’s economy has grown by nearly 1.5 times.

He proudly noted that Uttarakhand secured first place in the NITI Aayog’s SDG rankings for 2023–24 and was ranked second among small states in good governance and financial management by CARE Ratings.

Legal and Social Reforms

Uttarakhand has introduced several key legislations to ensure social harmony and security:

• Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
• Strict anti-cheating law
• Anti-conversion law
• Anti-riot law
• Land reforms

CM Dhami added that the government has successfully connected over three lakh youth to self-employment initiatives, promoting themes like Vocal for Local, heritage, education, skill development, and self-reliance.

Yoga, Wellness, and AYUSH

He emphasized that Uttarakhand is being developed as an AYUSH and Wellness Hub, with the country’s first “Yoga Policy” launched in the state. The government is also working towards the creation of two Spiritual Economic Zones to promote Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, and spiritual tourism.

Centre’s Continued Support Appreciated

CM Dhami acknowledged the Centre’s consistent support in realizing these goals and appreciated the role of the Central Zonal Council in resolving inter-state and policy issues over the years.

He concluded by affirming that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, India is becoming a more secure, integrated, and self-reliant nation, with historical strides being made in cooperation, regional coordination, and internal security.

(Issued by Information & Public Relations Department, Uttarakhand)