From April 2017 to September 2020, more than 7.12 lakh people have been provided employment in the State. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said this in a virtual press conference on completion of three and a half years of the state government’s term in office on Friday.

Rawat said with a zero tolerance for corruption, the state government had focused on development works including enhancement of connectivity, interests of farmers and women while ensuring that 85 per cent of its announcements had been fulfilled. He said, “In the past State governments didn’t do this but we have kept a record of the jobs provided during our tenure so far because we think the people should also know such aspects. A total of 7,12,837 persons were provided employment from 2017 to 2020. These include regularised employment for about 16,000 people, outsourced/contract-basis employment for 1.15 lakh people and employment through entrepreneurship and private investment to about 5.80 lakh people. From 2014 to 2017, the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (USSSC) held eight exams with appointments to 801 posts being facilitated as a result.  However, 59 exams were held and selection for 6,000 posts was done from 2017 to 2020. The requisition process for 7,200 posts is currently underway. While six lakh persons are provided work under MNREGA every year about two lakh additional labourers were provided work under the scheme this year. An additional expenditure of Rs 170 crore was made this year compared to the last year. Further, 40,000 people are to be provided work under CAMPA in the next three months. Uttarakhand is also the first state to launch a scheme like the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana to enable self employment even as 40 per cent of district plan budget has been allocated to facilitating self employment.”

The CM further informed that the state government is working on a scheme for protection of crops from wild animals. This will entail construction of four monkey rescue centres with capacity for 25,000 animals, 125 kilometre wall construction for protecting farms from wild boars, 50 kilometres of solar fencing, 13 kilometres of wall for protection from elephants and 250 kilometres of trenches to keep elephants out of farms and habitations. Work is also underway on nurseries for women in which about 20,000 women are likely to get work. Rawat also announced that the government will establish a world class science college and set up Himalaya eco clubs in 5,000 schools also providing funds for the same.

He said that declaring Gairsain the summer capital was a historic decision taken by the government and also notified. Infrastructure and provision of basic facilities required for a capital are now being developed in the area. Another landmark decision taken by the State government was for the creation of the Char Dham Devsthanam Board considering the future requirements, facilities for pilgrims, interests of priests and the local businessmen. The traditional rights of the priests have been untouched, he reiterated. Yet another major decision was to implement the Atal Ayushman Yojana for all families in the state, providing them free treatment costing upto Rs five lakh a year. More than two lakh persons have benefitted from this scheme so far on which the state government has spent more than Rs 180 crore. Providing national portability facility, beneficiaries can seek treatment from 22,000 hospitals across the country listed under the scheme.

Rawat also referred to other initiatives including the e-cabinet, e-office and the CM helpline 1905 through which more than 65 per cent of the public grievances received had been resolved. He also said that implementation of the Transfer Act had eradicated the corrupt system of facilitating transfers through dubious means. Stating that more than Rs 25,000 crore worth of investment announced during the investors summit in 2018 had undergone grounding, Rawat said that a target of increasing this sum to Rs 40,000 crore had been set for the next year and a half. The CM also spoke about reverse migration, steps taken to facilitate rural development, boost tourism and develop infrastructure in the state.