CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Urges Citizens to Demand Bills, Boost State Revenue
DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called upon the people of Uttarakhand to actively contribute to transparency in commercial transactions by insisting on a bill for every purchase. He said public participation in responsible buying practices directly strengthens the State’s revenue system and accelerates development. The Chief Minister was addressing an event in his Official Residence on Tuesday, where he distributed prizes to the winners of the State government’s “Bill Lao–Inam Pao” scheme.
During the programme, Dhami congratulated the winners and highlighted the growing public response to the scheme, which was launched in 2022 to promote consumer awareness and curb tax evasion. A total of 1,888 consumers were awarded prizes for the scheme period between September 1, 2022, and March 31, 2024. The prizes included two electric vehicles, 16 Maruti Alto K-10 cars, 20 electric scooters, 50 motorcycles, 100 laptops, 200 smart TVs, 500 tablets, and 1,000 microwaves.
The Chief Minister said the State government aims to strengthen a culture in which every citizen demands a bill, thereby ensuring that each transaction contributes to the State’s growth. Over the past three years, he said, the scheme has significantly increased awareness among consumers and created a shared sense of responsibility between customers and business owners.
Dhami also emphasised the positive shift in India’s economic environment over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the country has built a new confidence in business, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Uttarakhand, he added, is aligned with this vision through efforts such as the Ease of Doing Business reforms and the Business Reform Action Plan, which aim to boost investment and entrepreneurship in the State.
Highlighting Uttarakhand’s sound fiscal management, the Chief Minister said the State has succeeded in keeping its fiscal deficit within prescribed norms. This achievement has been recognised nationally, with the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management ranking Uttarakhand among the States with the strongest financial discipline. He added that the State continues to hold the top position on the national Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index.
Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu informed that nearly 90,000 consumers took part in the scheme, submitting around 6.5 lakh bills for purchases worth ₹270 crore. Tax Commissioner Sonika said that a total of 1,888 participants have received rewards under the initiative.
