The Uttarakhand Chief Minister TrivendraRawat inaugurated the seven-day State level 67th industrial development and cultural fair- Gauchar Mela at Gauchar in Chamoli district on Tuesday.
The chief minister also laid down the foundation stones for and unveiled various developmental projects costing Rs 45.96 crore. Rawat also distributed Rs 5.46 crore in agricultural loan at two per cent interest to 1054 small farmers of Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts under the Deendayal Upadhyay Kisan Kalyan Yojana.
During the function chief minister Rawat also garlanded the photo of the Victoria Cross recipient Darban Singh Negi and first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru apart from felicitating the oldest freedom fighter of the region, BS Bisht on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at the Gauchar Mela, chief minister Rawat exhorted the education youth of the state to become involved in agriculture with the use of latest technological developments. He stressed that the use of new techniques could help bring about a revolution in the field of agriculture.
He said that the responsibility has been handed over to the principal of the degree college to fill the vacant posts. The insurance policy for the security of students of the degree college has been started. The state government is fully committed to bring improvement in the field of medical health services.
The chief minister further said that in the 12 hospitals of the state, the tele-radiology facility has been started and Uttarkhand has become the fifth state in the nation which has this type of medical service in operation. To solve the shortage of doctors, 170 doctors have been deputed in the hospitals of mountainous district, he added.
Chief Minister Rawat said that a decision has been taken to establish skill development center in border districts of Chamoli and Pithoragarh to link the unemployed youth with employment.
The two training centres will also be opened in Garhwal and Kumaon regions for the young men and women wanting to prepare for the entrance test of armed forces.
Considering the number of serving and retired servicemen in the state, the government has also decided to provide government job to one family member of any army or paramilitary personnel martyred in the service of the nation. Rawat announced that the Government Inter college Karnprayag will be named in the first Victoria Cross recipient Darban Singh Negi while the Gairsain -Dhargade motor road will be named after the freedom fighter Bachan Singh. Under the Ganga Gai Yojana the chief minister presented cheques for Rs 40,000 to two women beneficiaries. Earlier, the Karnprayag MLA Surendra Singh Negi welcomed the chief minister and appreciated the commitment of State and Central governments for the development of the mountainous area.
He raised the demand for allocation of funds for construction of the DIET building and polytechnic hostel.
MLAs Mahendra Bhatt, Bharat Singh, district Panchayat president Munni Devi Shah, BJP district president Mohan Prasad Thapliyal, former MLA Anil Nautiyal, District Magistrate Ashish Joshi, superintendent of police Tripti Bhatt, Mela officer SDM KN Goswami and local residents were also present on the occasion.