Infrastructure Development Advisor, Bridge Commission, Dinesh Aggarwal said that for the real and sustainable development of Uttarakhand, it is necessary to ensure access to strong health and education infrastructure and quality services to every hill village of the state. Only when the health and education facilities in the villages will be strengthened, migration will be effectively controlled, livelihood opportunities will become sustainable and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's resolution of 'Developed Uttarakhand' can be realized in real sense.
Proposal ready for policy reforms
In a press conference held at the Secretariat Media Center on Monday, Infrastructure Development Advisor Dinesh Aggarwal said that the Commission's effort is to give priority to ground facts and actual needs while preparing proposals for policy reforms. In this sequence, work is being done by the Commission on five areas namely economy and skills, infrastructure and welfare, urban and sub-urban development, monitoring and evaluation and data analytics. He said that the Commission is playing an important role in making the policy-making process of the state evidence-based and result-centric in accordance with the visionary guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the Prime Minister's national resolution of 'Developed India-2047'.
Aggarwal said that under economy and skill development, work is being done on drafting Uttarakhand Bioenergy Policy-2026, Forest Panchayat Rules-2026 and Cooperative Policy-2026. Work is being done on future skills and digital skill development in various institutions with the support of NIIT Foundation, employability skills in 119 state colleges with the support of NASSCOM, strengthening of market access of farmers through major organized buyers and preparing the outline of Overseas Placement Cell.
100% placement arrangement in the center
He said that in the field of infrastructure and welfare, the Commission is working towards setting up 17 integrated smart village centers in five districts. Under this, special attention is being given to provision of 100% placement in National Rural Development Fund (RGNV), JEE Center of Excellence in Dehradun, Hospitality Skills Center of Kumaon University, targeted interventions on anemia, stunting and maternal-child mortality and strengthening of trauma care and telemedicine system in collaboration with AIIMS Rishikesh.
To ensure better citizen services
He said that in view of the rapid urbanization and increasing population pressure from hilly areas to cities, a detailed report is being prepared on the transfer of powers to urban local bodies. Besides, work is also being done to strengthen solid waste management and prepare a draft of a new Urban Act for the state, so that planned development and better citizen services can be ensured in the cities.
Developed comprehensive indicator framework
Advisor Aggarwal said that the systematic evaluation work of the state, which was earlier almost postponed and going on at a slow pace, is now being strengthened by the Commission. Evaluation of Chief Minister Migration Prevention Scheme, Amrit Sarovar Scheme, Frontier Area Development Program and Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme has been started with the participation of the universities of the state. Along with this, a comprehensive indicator framework has been prepared for 'Developed Uttarakhand-2047', which is in the process of being adopted by the state government.
Created data governance policy
Along with this, emphasis is being laid on digital and data based good governance. Under this, a state data governance policy is being formulated in line with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Digital India', whose guiding principle is 'One Identity, Many Solutions'. This policy will free citizens and frontline workers from repeated documentary formalities. It will provide a more robust and adaptive digital infrastructure to challenges such as fluctuations in digital connectivity, so that no citizen, worker or development program has to face the impact of technical obstacles.
will help prevent migration
Advisor Dinesh Aggarwal said that he has specifically suggested before the Commission that access to strong and quality health and education services to the hill villages should be given a prominent place among the development priorities. He said that with the availability of strong opportunities for education, health and livelihood in the villages, the youth will be able to see the possibilities of a better future in their homes and villages and this will help in stopping migration.
He said that he will closely monitor the progress of these works being done by the Bridge Commission with special interest, so that the Bridge Commission can provide maximum effective support to the state government in realizing Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's resolve of 'Developed Uttarakhand'. On this occasion, Director Planning Mr. Manoj Pant, experts Mr. Vishal Parashar and Mr. Hanumant Rawat were also present.