Sunday, 01 January 2023 | PNS | Dehradun
State to take decision on UCC in 2023, says CM
With the support of citizens, the State government will work to take Uttarakhand to new heights in 2023. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said this while greeting the people on the eve of the New Year on Saturday. He said the State government will also take a decision on implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand in 2023. Thanking the people, Dhami said that for the first time in the history of the State a government was re-elected for the second consecutive term in Uttarakhand. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the assistance of the Centre, the State government is working consistently for all round development of Uttarakhand.
He said that acting on its promise in the past year, the State government in its first cabinet meeting cleared the formation of a high level committee for facilitating the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the State. The Uniform Civil Code will be implemented on the basis of the final draft in Uttarakhand. The State government also passed two historic bills in the Vidhan Sabha during 2022. With the passing of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2022, provision has been made for strict punishment for those guilty of forced religious conversion. In addition to this, the Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill 2022 was also passed to once again implement the 30 per cent horizontal reservation for women in government jobs in the State. Dhami further said that the 300 MW Lakhwad multipurpose project was passed with the mutual coordination of the Central and State governments. The multipurpose Jamrani dam project has also received investment approval from the Centre. This project will benefit the Terai regions of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
The State government is also working on the Manaskhand Mandir Mala project to develop the ancient temples in Kumaon on the lines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. This will also provide employment opportunities for the local people. Work is also underway to expand the physical structures and transportation facilities for all temples and Gurudwaras on the Char Dham circuit. The number of people who undertook the Char Dham Yatra in 2022 set a new record even as crores of Kanwadias too Ganga water from Haridwar to their respective destinations. For the first time, the State government allocated separate budget for the successful conduct of the Kanwad Yatra. Dhami further said that the Central government had approved Rs 1,200 crore for expansion of mobile connectivity which is being used for setting up 1,202 new mobile phone towers in remote areas of the State.
Referring to other works, he said that important works are being done at swift pace to enhance the road, rail, ropeway and air connectivity in the State. PM Modi unveiled the foundation stones for various development projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore. These include the Gaurikund-Kedarnath ropeways and Govindghat-Hemkund ropeways along with widening of the road from Mana to Mana Pass and from Joshimath to Malari. Expanding the air service in the State, helicopter service was flagged off from Dehradun airport to Almora and Pithoragarh.
The CM said that the corruption free Uttarakhand 1064 app was also launched to tackle corruption in the State. Swift action is being taken on complaints being received through this app, he said. The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission is now conducting the recruitment process to about 7,000 posts which was earlier being handled by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission. Considering the future of the State’s youth, the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission has issued a calendar for 32 examinations in 2023 which also include 15 exams of the UKSSSC.
In 2023 the State government will also take a decision on implementing the Uniform Civil Code. The government will also boost the women policy, schemes to stall migration, one district two products, expand air service in border areas, strengthen disaster management system, facilitate development to enable settlement in border villages and execute works amounting to Rs 180 crore under Kedarnath reconstruction phase II along with expediting work on the Badrinath master plan.
