Chief Minister inaugurates Government Degree College in Barnigad; lays foundation stones for 30 projects and inaugurates eight others
Several key announcements, including a permanent college campus, mini stadium and motor road
Government colleges in Barkot and Chinyalisaur to be upgraded
Chief Minister distributes cheques and equipment to beneficiaries at public service camp under the Seva Setu campaign
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday participated in a public service camp organised under the Seva Setu campaign as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at the Government Inter College, Barnigad (Kuwa), in the Purola Assembly constituency of Uttarkashi district.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid foundation stones for and inaugurated 38 development projects worth approximately ₹217 crore. These included the foundation laying of 30 projects and the inauguration of eight completed works. He also inaugurated the Government Degree College in Barnigad.
During the programme, Dhami announced several important initiatives for the development of the region. He said construction of a permanent building and campus for the Government Degree College, Barnigad, would begin soon. He also announced a mini stadium at Raja Raghunath Devdokri and the construction of a motor road connecting Thala Chowk in Barnigad with the Government Inter College, Barnigad.
The Chief Minister further announced the upgradation of the Government Degree Colleges in Barkot and Chinyalisaur. He said the previously announced bridge and road construction project from Dada Gaon Chhani to Tatao would also be completed at the earliest.
Dhami laid foundation stones for 30 development projects costing more than ₹194 crore. These included five projects worth ₹6 crore under the Public Works Department's Purola division, four projects worth ₹6.61 crore under the Barkot division, 18 projects worth ₹176.87 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Purola division, and three irrigation projects worth ₹5.12 crore under the Irrigation Division, Purola.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated eight development projects costing more than ₹22 crore. These comprised one project worth ₹97 lakh under the Public Works Department, Barkot; three projects worth ₹1.25 crore under Samagra Shiksha; one project worth ₹1.36 crore under Secondary Education; and three projects worth ₹18.76 crore under the PMGSY Purola division.
The projects are expected to strengthen road connectivity, irrigation, education and other essential infrastructure in the region.
During the public service camp, the Chief Minister inspected stalls set up by various government departments. He distributed cheques and equipment to beneficiaries of different welfare schemes and reviewed the progress of public welfare programmes with departmental officials, seeking details about the benefits reaching residents.
Dhami said he was delighted to visit Barnigad for the first time as Chief Minister. He thanked the women, young people and residents who attended the programme in large numbers and expressed their affection and enthusiasm.
He said the state government's objective was not merely to formulate schemes but to ensure that their benefits reached the last person in society. The Seva Setu campaign was an important initiative towards achieving this goal, enabling the government to reach people directly and resolve their grievances without requiring them to make repeated visits to tehsil and district headquarters.
The Chief Minister said the development projects inaugurated and launched during the programme would accelerate regional growth. Improved road connectivity and infrastructure would boost tourism and create new employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth.
He added that the opening of the Government Degree College in Barnigad would provide students in the region with better access to higher education. Land for the institution has already been made available, and work on its permanent building and campus would begin soon.
Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand was continuously strengthening road connectivity, tourism, education and infrastructure. Empowerment of the poor, farmers, youth, soldiers and women remained a priority. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana had provided women relief from kitchen smoke, while the Jal Jeevan Mission was helping extend clean drinking water to households.
The Chief Minister said more than 3.10 lakh women in Uttarakhand had become Lakhpati Didis. Women associated with Self-Help Groups were strengthening their livelihoods through sewing, weaving, handlooms, handicrafts and local products.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Mahalakshmi Yojana, the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana and 30 per cent horizontal reservation for women in government services as important measures to promote women's empowerment.
Dhami also said more than 59 lakh devotees had undertaken the Char Dham pilgrimage so far this year. Ensuring pilgrims' safety, convenient travel and adequate facilities remained a priority for the state government.
He noted that Uttarakhand had become the first state in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code. The state had also introduced stringent land laws, an anti-conversion law and an anti-riot law. More than 13,000 acres of land had been freed from illegal encroachments through enforcement action, he said.
Emphasising youth welfare, the Chief Minister said a stringent anti-cheating law had been implemented to protect young people's futures and ensure transparency in recruitment examinations. More than 35,000 young people had secured government jobs through transparent recruitment processes over the past five years.
He reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening education, healthcare, roads and employment opportunities in remote and mountainous areas.
Purola MLA Durgeshwar Lal welcomed the Chief Minister to Barnigad and expressed gratitude for the development initiatives. He said the state government was consistently working for regional development and public welfare, adding that the opening of the degree college and the launch and inauguration of various projects would give fresh momentum to the area.
Those present included District Panchayat President Ramesh Chauhan, BJP state media in-charge Manveer Chauhan, BJP district president Nagendra Chauhan, Minister of State Shyam Dobhal, Jagat Singh Chauhan, Laxman Singh Bhandari, former MLA Malchand, Narayan Singh Chauhan, Naveen Thakur, Satyendra Rana, Mahavir Negi, Parashuram Jagudi, Kiran Rawat, Jagmohan Chand, Anil Chauhan, block chief Randev Rana, Mamta Panwar and Nagar Panchayat President Vijay Kumar.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya, Superintendent of Police Kamlesh Upadhyay, Chief Development Officer Jai Bharat Singh, college principal Pankaj Pant, other departmental officials, public representatives and a large number of local residents also attended the programme.
