DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a new hostel at Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Manduwala, Dehradun. Extending his best wishes to the students, the Chief Minister emphasized that the upcoming hostel will significantly contribute to the all-round development of students by providing them with quality residential facilities.
Reflecting on the role of Saraswati Shishu Mandir since India’s independence, he stated that the institution has played a key role in reviving cultural values and nurturing a spirit of nationalism. He also congratulated the students of Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Manduwala, for achieving a 100% pass rate in the recent 10th and 12th board examinations.
Highlighting reforms in the education sector, CM Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has seen transformative changes in education. He proudly noted that Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the New Education Policy (NEP). As part of this initiative, 141 PM Shri Vidyalayas and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential Schools are being developed in the state. Additionally, virtual classrooms have been established in 500 schools across all 13 districts. To ensure high educational standards, NCERT books have been made mandatory in all government schools.
The Chief Minister also spoke about several student-centric schemes launched by the state government. These include the Chief Minister’s Medhavi Chhatra Protsahan Scholarship Scheme, which provides scholarships to meritorious students from classes 6 to 12 across both government and private schools. Furthermore, a unique program has been initiated to take top-performing students of 10th and 12th grade on an educational tour across India to support their personality development.
Other key initiatives mentioned by the CM include the Chief Minister Balashraya Yojana and the establishment of Vidya Samiksha Kendra—a centralized system aimed at monitoring and improving the quality of education and learning outcomes in schools. Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to adopt the Gujarat model of Vidya Samiksha Kendra, with over 16,000 schools already linked to the system. Plans are underway to bring all private schools under its ambit as well.
CM Dhami further noted that the state is prioritizing sports alongside academics. State-of-the-art stadiums and sports facilities have been developed with substantial investment. Talented athletes, starting from the age of 8, are being awarded scholarships and provided with free training, education, accommodation, meals, and sports kits at residential sports colleges. A landmark policy has also been introduced to offer government jobs to players who win medals in national competitions. The CM proudly stated that Uttarakhand’s athletes made history by winning over 100 medals at the recently held 38th National Games.
The Chief Minister praised Vidya Bharati, the organization running Saraswati Vidya Mandir, for its contribution to the Indian education system. Across India, more than 12,000 schools managed by Vidya Bharati are educating over 35 lakh students. These institutions provide not just academic excellence but also instill moral values, patriotism, Indian culture, and a strong sense of social responsibility among students.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including All India Executive Board Member Suresh Soni, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLA Sahdev Pundir, All India Organization Minister Shivkumar, Regional Organization Minister (Western Uttar Pradesh) Vidya Bharati Domeshwar Sahu, School President Surendra, Dr. Sushma Agarwal, Doon University Vice Chancellor Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Municipal Council President Neeru Devi, and Chairperson of the Child Commission Geeta Khanna.
