ANI
07 Oct 2026

Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], October 7 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday offered prayers at the historic Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shakti Temple in Uttarkashi, praying for the prosperity, peace and well-being of the state and its people.

Following the temple visit, Dhami participated in the Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra and Seva Sankalp Sabha organised at the historic Ramlila Maidan under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. He also attended a programme marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years in public service.

Addressing the gathering, Dhami said that over the past two-and-a-half decades, Prime Minister Modi had made public service, good governance and the welfare of the poor the foundation of his public life.

He said the Seva Jyoti Yatra symbolised the commitment to public service, national spirit and public welfare.

Dhami said that under Modi's leadership, schemes including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had reached people at the grassroots level.

"Governance has been taken beyond government offices and files and brought to the doorsteps of the people," he said.

The Chief Minister said Modi had described the third decade of the 21st century as the decade of Uttarakhand from the land of Baba Kedarnath, adding that the state government was working to realise this vision.

He said road, rail and air connectivity was being expanded in the state, while opportunities in industry, tourism, employment and self-employment were also being increased.

Highlighting Uttarakhand's economic growth, Dhami said the state's economy had grown by more than one-and-a-half times over the past four years, while per capita income had increased by more than 41 per cent.

He said more than 20,000 new industries had been established in the state, while the number of hotels had increased by around 25 per cent and homestays by more than 50 per cent. More than three lakh women in Uttarakhand, he added, had become Lakhpati Didis.

Dhami further said Uttarakhand had secured the first position in the country in the Sustainable Development Goals Index and had been recognised as the Most Film Friendly State for four consecutive years. He also said the state had achieved the distinction of becoming fully literate.

On religious tourism, the Chief Minister said efforts to make the Char Dham Yatra safe, convenient and well-organised had yielded results, with more than 56 lakh pilgrims undertaking the pilgrimage so far this year.

Speaking about development in Uttarkashi district, Dhami said 50 development schemes worth more than Rs 200 crore had been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid. Of these, work on 26 projects had been completed while 24 projects were currently underway.

Dhami also highlighted several measures undertaken by the state government, saying Uttarakhand had become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code.

He said the state had also enacted an anti-conversion law, anti-riot law, land law and anti-copying law.

According to Dhami, a transparent recruitment system coupled with the anti-copying law had enabled more than 35,000 youths to secure government jobs on merit over nearly the past five years.

"The resolve of a Viksit Bharat must be translated into our duties and responsibilities," Dhami said, adding that the state government was working to make Uttarakhand one of the leading states in the country in line with the Prime Minister's vision.

During his Uttarkashi visit, Dhami announced the construction of a Vishwanath-Shakti Temple Corridor in the district.

He said the sacred site of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Shakti was a major centre of faith for devotees and that the proposed corridor would provide better facilities to pilgrims while promoting religious tourism and creating local employment opportunities.

Dhami also said the proposal to upgrade the Primary Health Centre at Dhauntari in the Gajna area would be examined.

He said a proposal for establishing a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhatwari had been sent to the Government of India and that efforts would be made to secure its early approval.

He further announced that development and beautification works related to Dodital, Awana Bugyal and Hari Maharaj Saud Bugyal would be taken forward.

The Chief Minister also announced that the Health Centre at Dhauntari, Gajna, would be named after former MLA late Gopal Singh Rawat. (ANI)