Chief Minister Inaugurates Pravasi Uttarakhandi Conference at Doon University
“Migrants Are the True Brand Ambassadors of Devbhoomi” — Chief Minister Dhami
DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday inaugurated the Pravasi Uttarakhandi Conference at Doon University, organized as part of the state’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. The program began with a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in recent natural disasters across the state.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that expatriate Uttarakhandis are taking the culture, traditions, and identity of Devbhoomi to global heights. Describing them as the “true brand ambassadors” of the state, he said that Uttarakhand’s folk culture, dialects, and values create a bond among its people regardless of where they live in the world.
He said that the Pravasi Uttarakhand Council has been formed to incorporate the suggestions and expertise of migrants into the state’s development discourse. Many migrants, he noted, are adopting their native villages and contributing actively to development.
CM Dhami highlighted the state’s progress in education, healthcare, roads, sports, air connectivity, and drinking water supply. He said that initiatives like One District Two Products, House of Himalayas, State Millet Mission, New Tourism Policy, Wade in Uttarakhand, and the Solar Self-Employment Scheme have strengthened the local economy.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand has consistently performed strongly in national indices — achieving first place in NITI Aayog’s SDG rankings, “Achievers” status in Ease of Doing Business, and “Leaders” rank in the national Startup Ranking.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to cultural preservation, demographic balance, and corruption-free governance. Uttarakhand’s strict anti-copying law has enabled the recruitment of over 26,000 youth into government jobs in the past four years, while the zero-tolerance policy on corruption has led to the imprisonment of more than 200 corrupt individuals.
The CM said the goal is to make Uttarakhand, by its Golden Jubilee year, a state where “every youth has respectable employment, reverse migration becomes a reality, and migrants return with dignity.” He urged expatriates to become partners in this development journey.
Former Chief Minister and former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that honesty and hard work form the foundation of Devbhoomi’s heritage. Because of these values, he said, people of Uttarakhand earn respect across the world. He stressed the need to recognize strengths and expressed confidence that migrants would remain connected to their roots.
MLA Vinod Chamoli highlighted the achievements of Uttarakhandis across the country and encouraged expatriates to contribute their expertise to the state’s development. He assured full government support for such initiatives.
Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Mohan Singh Bisht thanked the Chief Minister for organizing the conference. He said that the fragrance of Uttarakhand’s soil, the sweetness of its dialects, and the rhythm of its folk dances remain deeply embedded in the hearts of expatriates. He praised the rapid progress of the state under CM Dhami’s leadership.
Actor Himani Shivpuri, an expatriate Uttarakhandi, said she has adopted her ancestral village in Rudraprayag district. She emphasized the importance of promoting the state’s rich cultural and folk traditions.
Senior IAS officer and Chief Secretary of Rajasthan Sudhansh Pant described the conference as a celebration of “the fragrance of our soil and the soul of our culture.” He said Uttarakhand is a land of values, hard work, and spirituality, and urged everyone to pledge to remain connected to their roots.
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan shared that the state is making significant strides in education, health, tourism, organic farming, industrial growth, and green energy. With transparent governance and efficient administration, the state has witnessed substantial growth in its GDP and per capita income. Hosting the 38th National Games, he said, has created a new identity for Uttarakhand as a “sports land.”
Pravasi Uttarakhandi and senior official in the Ministry of Textiles, Purnesh Gururani, suggested the establishment of a National Institute of Fashion Designing in the state and proposed textile parks in both divisions to harness the potential of Himalayan fibers.
Expatriates Share Suggestions
Expatriate participants from across the country presented their ideas and discussed avenues through which they could contribute to Uttarakhand’s development.
Those present at the event included MLA Kishore Upadhyay, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Doon University Vice Chancellor Prof. Surekha Dangwal, senior officials, and expatriate Uttarakhandis from various parts of India.
