Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 3 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Governing Body of the Uttarakhand State Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (USCPPGG) at the Secretariat and stressed the need to give special emphasis to research, innovation and effective implementation while formulating policies.
During the meeting, Dhami said policymaking should take into account the state's unique geographical conditions, challenges and future requirements. He stressed that findings from research and studies should be effectively utilised to make government policies and schemes more impactful.
The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare case studies based on Uttarakhand's achievements and notable work carried out in various sectors. He also called for a special focus on training and capacity building of officials at the district level.
He said long-term plans should be developed by taking into account Uttarakhand's unique circumstances and potential, while data- and research-based approaches should be prioritised in policymaking and future action plans.
The meeting decided to provide stipends for capstone projects to 10 postgraduate students every year from leading universities in the state. The initiative is aimed at encouraging research and projects focused on priority areas identified by the state.
The meeting also emphasised organising an awards ceremony to honour individuals who have made outstanding contributions in various fields. Discussions were also held on the effective implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and initiatives being undertaken in this regard.
Members of the Governing Body offered several suggestions for the state's overall and long-term development. They emphasised promoting high-value, low-volume products and giving special attention to the MSME sector.
They also suggested promoting homestay tourism in hill areas to create greater opportunities for local employment and self-employment.
The members suggested conducting detailed research and studies in eight key reform areas related to Uttarakhand's future development so that better strategies could be formulated for future plans and programmes. They also stressed setting annual monitoring targets and regularly evaluating schemes and initiatives. Periodic reviews of policies were recommended to assess their effectiveness.
The Governing Body members suggested including soil as a key focus area and giving special attention to strengthening the health sector. They emphasised training and motivating officials up to the block level for effective implementation of policies and schemes.
They also suggested incorporating the state's achievements into orientation programmes and actively involving universities in research and studies related to Uttarakhand's progress, potential and development.
The members further stressed that departments should identify priority areas in accordance with the state's requirements and provide relevant subjects for research.
The meeting also discussed Uttarakhand's future development strategy under the vision of Uttarakhand 2047. Special focus was proposed on areas including economic development and employment, human resources and welfare, forests, biodiversity and climate adaptation, infrastructure development, local governance and regional development, and technology-driven good governance.
Discussions also focused on promoting sustainable development, employment generation and environmental balance alongside the state's economic growth.
The meeting reviewed the work being undertaken by USCPPGG in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Emphasis was laid on localisation and monitoring of the SDGs, policy evaluation and advancing policy studies on subjects linked to the state's priorities. It was informed that Uttarakhand ranks first among Himalayan states in the field of Sustainable Development Goals.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Dhami also released the book ‘Uttarakhand at 25: A Himalayan State with Infinite Possibilities’, which chronicles the state's 25-year journey.
The Chief Minister directed officials to examine the important suggestions put forward by the Governing Body members and take necessary action on those found useful.
He said continuous efforts should be made to accelerate the state's development through research, innovation, effective policymaking, capacity building and better implementation of government schemes. (ANI)
CM Dhami stresses research, innovation and effective implementation for Uttarakhand's growth
