Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Lays Foundation Stone of ₹58.32 Crore Rural Development Building in Dehradun

Aug 25 : Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a program held at Danda Nooriwala, Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun, and laid the foundation stone for the Rural Development Building, to be constructed at a cost of ₹58.32 crore. On this occasion, he also planted a sapling in the premises.

Congratulating the Rural Development Department on the foundation laying of the integrated building, the Chief Minister said that this building would play a vital role in rural development. He mentioned that all major flagship schemes of the department would operate under one roof in this ₹58 crore facility.

The Chief Minister highlighted that through the “One District, Two Products” scheme, the state government is promoting local livelihoods, while branding traditional products under the “House of Himalayas” at national and international platforms. Efforts are also underway to export these products to major global markets, with a target of achieving ₹25 crore in turnover by 2027, thereby providing sustainable livelihoods to thousands of youth, women, and self-help groups in the state.

He added that initiatives like the State Millet Mission, Farm Machinery Bank, Apple Mission, new tourism policy, new film policy, homestay scheme, “Wed in Uttarakhand,” and Solar Self-Employment Scheme are strengthening the state’s economy. The homestay scheme is enabling remote villages to establish their unique identities, while the “Lakhpati Didi” scheme is empowering millions of women economically. The Rural Business Incubator Centre scheme is further fostering self-employment and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government has developed multiple sectors like religious tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, wellness tourism, agro-tourism, and film tourism. The country’s first Yoga Policy has been implemented to establish Uttarakhand as the global capital of yoga. Four villages—Jakhole, Harshil, Gunji, and Supi—have been awarded the Best Tourism Village Award by the Union Ministry of Tourism.

He credited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership for the unprecedented developments in rural sectors through schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, MGNREGA, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Mission, which have strengthened rural communities socially and economically. Guided by the Prime Minister’s vision, the state government is working diligently to further empower Uttarakhand’s rural economy.

CM Dhami mentioned adopting Sarkot village in Gairsain (the summer capital) as a model village, where significant progress has been achieved in livestock rearing, mushroom cultivation, homestays, and millet farming. He proudly shared that Sarkot’s 21-year-old Priyanka Negi has been elected as the youngest Panchayat head in the state. He announced plans to invite Priyanka Negi for discussions regarding the development of Sarkot and other villages across Uttarakhand.

Cabinet Minister Shri Ganesh Joshi, speaking at the event, assured that under CM Dhami’s leadership, every project inaugurated is also completed and dedicated to the public. He confirmed that the Rural Development Building, designed in traditional hill architecture and equipped with solar power facilities, would also be inaugurated soon. He informed that 1,65,000 women have already become “Lakhpati Didis” under the scheme. Under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana, 30,678 individuals have been trained, out of which around 19,600 have secured employment.

The event was also attended by MLA Shri Umesh Sharma Kau, Secretary Smt. Radhika Jha, Additional Secretary Shri Abhishek Rohela, Smt. Anuradha Pal, Ms. Jharna Kamthan, and officers of the Rural Development Department.

Department of Information and Public Relations