PNS | DEHRADUN
The governor of Uttarakhand lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh has said that the regular increase in the per capita income (PCI) in Uttarakhand reflects the consistent development of the State. Addressing the first day of the budget session of Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, the governor said that the PCI in Uttarakhand was Rs 16,232 in the year 2000-2001 which has increased to Rs 2,46,178 in 2023-24. Presenting the performance and vision of the State government, Singh said that the priority of the government is to ensure a place for Uttarakhand in the category of developed States of the country. Amid slogan shouting from the opposition and thumping of tables by treasury benches, the governor said that Uttarakhand has become the first State in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which has primarily protected the interests of women. It has brought about a uniformity in the civil laws by removing the discriminations based on caste, religion and sex. He added that the State adopted the three new criminal laws from July 1, 2024. The governor said that the Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Act implemented in the State on September 20, 2024 has provision to recover the damage from the rioters.
He said that the State successfully hosted 38th National Games from January 28 to February 14 this year. The players of Uttarakhand won more than 100 medals in these games to create a new record.
Singh said that the State government has set up a State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) on the lines of NITI Aayog for judicious use of available resources. He said that the State has got the first place in the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the start-up policy, the Industrial Development department has approved 168 start-ups and 15 incubators in the State. An incubator centre named U –hub is being developed at the IT Park in Dehradun.
The State government organised the International Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan and Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan in Dehradun, in which the non-resident Uttarakhandis showed keen interest in start-ups, infrastructure and power sectors.
The governor said that the State government has made a provision to grant 10 per cent horizontal reservation to the statehood activists. He said that the Public Works Department constructed 116 km roads and 11 bridges in the year 2024-25. The State is generating 600 MW of solar power.
