DEHRADUN: Youth from northeastern states interacted with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on April 1 at the Chief Minister’s residence as part of the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” campaign. These youth are travelling from Dehradun to Uttarkashi as part of a three-day state tour program. During the visit, students from various northeastern states asked the Chief Minister questions on a number of important topics, which the Chief Minister answered in detail and with cordiality.
In response to a question from a student from Tripura about students’ convenience and safety, the Chief Minister said that students from India and abroad come to Uttarakhand to pursue education, and that the state government prioritises their convenience and safety.
Responding to a question from a student from Arunachal Pradesh about cultural exchange between Uttarakhand and the North-Eastern states, the Chief Minister said that the geographical and cultural conditions of both regions are quite similar, which further strengthens the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.
In response to a question on the role of women in Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister said that more than 2 lakh 65 thousand women in the state have become ‘Lakhpati Didi’ and the state government has set a gender budget of Rs 19 thousand crore for women’s empowerment.
Welcoming all the students from the northeastern states to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he felt extremely happy to be among the youth from the northeastern states, known as the “Ashtalaksmi” of the country, and from the Himalayan regions like Ladakh. He said that all these youth have come to make Uttarakhand even more prosperous, drawing on the rich cultural heritage and unique identities of their respective states.
The Chief Minister said that the diverse costumes, languages, traditions, and lifestyles embody India’s spirit of “unity in diversity,” and that it is a matter of pride for all of us. Referring to the natural beauty of the North-Eastern states, he said that the snow-capped peaks of Arunachal Pradesh, the tea gardens of Assam, the Loktak Lake of Manipur, the mountains of Meghalaya, the valleys of Mizoram, the traditions of Nagaland, the Kanchenjunga of Sikkim, the heritage of Tripura and the Himalayan beauty of Ladakh give a special identity to India’s diversity.
The Chief Minister said that under the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” motto, these youth are truly brand ambassadors of the country, working to integrate diverse cultures and traditions. He said that Uttarakhand and the northeastern states are rich in natural resources and both regions offer a wonderful confluence of mountains, rivers, forests and tribal lifestyles.
He said that, like Uttarakhand, folk culture is preserved with full vibrancy in the northeastern states. As Uttarakhand’s traditional fairs and festivals, such as Bihu, Shad Suk Mynsiem, Cherry Blossom Festival, and Nongkrem, celebrated in the northeastern states are symbols of cultural richness.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the North-Eastern states are today setting new dimensions of development. He said that unprecedented progress has been made in the North-East over the years in infrastructure, connectivity, trade, tourism, and digital empowerment. He pointed out that in the last 11 years, the central leadership has visited the North-East more than 800 times and that the “Look East” policy has been transformed into “Act East,” bringing the region into the mainstream of development.
Chief Minister Dhami said that thousands of kilometres of highways, railway lines, airports, gas grids, optical fibre networks, and mega projects have been developed in the Northeast. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, multi-modal logistics hubs, and projects promoting international trade are important steps in this direction.
The Chief Minister said that recognizing youth as a force for nation-building, the central government is providing opportunities through schemes such as Startup India, Skill India, Digital India, Make in India, and the New Education Policy. Large-scale investments have been made in the education and skill development sectors in the Northeast, including new schools, medical colleges, institutes, and sports infrastructure.
The Chief Minister called upon the youth to return to their areas after their education and skills and contribute to development and take the country forward by innovating in various fields.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people of the state to treat students from the Northeast with respect and uphold the spirit of “Atithi Devo Bhava.” He said the state government is also running helplines, sensitisation programs, and anti-racism workshops to ensure the safety of students from the Northeast.
The Chief Minister assured that all students are completely safe in Uttarakhand and that this land of God belongs to everyone. He said that if any student has any problems, they can reach out to the government through the Siddhi Foundation or the Seema Jagran Manch.
The Chief Minister said that the youth of the Northeast are playing a leading role in shaping the country, and the Uttarakhand government is ready to cooperate with them in every possible way. He emphasised the need to expand partnerships in areas such as student exchange, skills training, and organic farming. Colonel Ajay Kothiyal was also present in the program.
