The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has congratulated the people of the State on the eve of New Year. In his message, he said that the State Government has taken many policy decisions to ensure that Uttarakhand is counted among the leading States of the country and the objective is for effective implementation of schemes on the ground. Terming Gairsain as an issue associated with the identity of the State; he said that for the first time winter session of the assembly was convened there. Rawat said the Government has set up a Kedarnath Uthaan Charitable Trust for reconstruction of Kedarnath shrine.
Referring migration from the mountainous areas as an issue of major concern, the CM said that a Migration commission has been set up to address the issue. He said that the State Government has brought in the Transfer act to bring in transparency and strengthening of Government machinery. Rawat reaffirmed the policy of zero tolerance on corruption adopted by his Government. He added that a CM dashboard has been set up which will bring in mobility and transparency in the functioning of the Government. CM said that a Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kisan Kalyan Yojana has been initiated the State with an objective to double the income of farmers by the year 2012. Elaborating the efforts of his Government to promote tourism, he said that the 13 new tourist destinations have been earmarked in 13 districts of the State and an eco tourism circuit has been developed in Kotdwar.
The CM claimed that the Union Government is providing positive assistance on 33 Hydro power projects which are pending. The State has a capacity to produce 25000 MW of power but at present only 4000 MW is being produced. Rawat said that efforts are on to make Uttarakhand as a power State and the Government has made the use of LED bulbs mandatory for all Government and other offices. Outlining the efforts of his Government to improve health facilities, the CM said that a MOU with a leading IT company has been signed to start E -health centres in remote mountainous areas.
The Government has also started tele -radiology and telemedicine schemes in 35 hospitals of the State and a decision to install minimum two beds in ICU in every district hospital has been taken. He added that doctors and nurses are being deployed in mountainous areas.
The CM further said that the State has started a campaign to rejuvenate Rispana (Dehradun) and Kosi (Haldwani) rivers and in next five years a target to revive 5000 water sources has been taken. He said that the Govt has moved forward on a plan to make more than one Lakh youngsters skilled in next three years and two residential skill development centres are being set up. The CM listed setting up of Software Technology Park of India as achievement of his government and said that process has been initiated to set up Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and National Fashion Technology Institute in the state. National Institute of Electronics and Information Centre in Haridwar and a hospitality university would also be established in the State.
The CM termed construction of Kandi road which will connect Kumaon to Garhwal as one of his priorities.
He said that the work on All weather road to Char Dhams has started and the Rishikesh – Karanprayag rail and Deoband – Roorkee rail link would give an impetus to development of the state.
He said that the State has become fourth State in the country which is open defecation free in rural areas and the government has taken to target to make 92 urban bodies as ODF by the end of 2018.