Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], April 7 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said that nearly 30 crore people have been lifted out of poverty in the past decade due to the Central Government’s policies. He made the statement while addressing a two-day Chintan Shivir organized by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Dehradun.
Highlighting the significance of the event, Dhami called the Shivir an extension of the ideologies of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, emphasizing that the deliberations would shape future policies on social empowerment.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “visionary leadership” and his guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas” for transforming the social welfare landscape of India.
Dhami noted that in the past, the Social Welfare Department was limited in scope, but under the Modi-led government, it has seen a transformative shift. He outlined major welfare efforts, including:
- Special pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities
- Scholarships for students from disadvantaged communities
- Promotion of self-employment and entrepreneurship
- Rehabilitation and awareness programs for drug addiction
- Free gas cylinders (three per year) for Antyodaya families
- Online, monthly pension disbursement for both spouses
For Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the state is:
- Running 15 hostels, 5 residential schools, and 3 ITIs
- Providing free coaching and monthly scholarships for competitive exams
- Offering Rs 50,000 grant for the marriage of SC/ST daughters
- Building permanent houses for SC homeless families under the Atal Housing Scheme
- Investing in tribal infrastructure and funding the Tribal Research Institute
Uttarakhand has also been active under the SMILE Scheme, with four cities selected to advance social inclusion efforts. The state is also:
- Conducting the Nasha Mukt Devbhoomi Abhiyan (Drug-Free Uttarakhand Campaign)
- Planning de-addiction centers in every district (one already operational in Haldwani)
- Rescuing children from begging and enrolling them in schools
- Offering skill development training to boost employment
Dhami concluded by inviting attendees to the upcoming Chardham Yatra and mentioned the state’s launch of the winter yatra. He recalled Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Harshil, which he said served as an encouragement to all involved. (ANI)
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