Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for greater use of research, innovation and data in policymaking, with government strategies tailored to the state’s geographical conditions, challenges and future requirements.
Dhami made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the governing body of the Uttarakhand State Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (USCPPGG) at the state Secretariat.
The meeting discussed research-based policymaking, evaluation of government schemes, capacity building of officials and the state’s long-term development strategy under Uttarakhand-2047.
Key Decisions and Recommendations
- 10 postgraduate students from major state universities will receive annual stipends for capstone projects on priority subjects.
- Research findings are to be used more effectively while framing government policies and schemes.
- Officials were asked to prepare case studies of Uttarakhand’s achievements and notable work across sectors.
- Greater emphasis was placed on training and capacity building of officials at the district and block levels.
- Departments were encouraged to identify priority subjects for research according to the state’s requirements.
- Regular evaluation of schemes, annual monitoring of targets and periodic assessment of policy effectiveness were discussed.
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Focus on Uttarakhand-Specific Development Needs
Dhami stressed that future planning should take into account Uttarakhand’s distinct Himalayan geography and development requirements.
The meeting discussed proposals for research and policy attention in areas including soil, healthcare, climate adaptation, infrastructure, local governance and technology-enabled governance.
Members also suggested promoting high-value, low-volume products, giving greater attention to MSMEs and encouraging homestay tourism in hill areas to support local employment and self-employment.
Uttarakhand-2047 Strategy Discussed
The governing body also discussed the state’s development strategy under Uttarakhand-2047.
The areas identified for attention included:
- Economic development and employment
- Human resource development and welfare
- Forests and biodiversity
- Climate adaptation and resilience
- Infrastructure development
- Local governance and regional development
- Technology-enabled good governance
- Sustainable development and environmental balance
The meeting also reviewed work being carried out by USCPPGG in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on localisation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Officials informed the meeting that Uttarakhand ranks first among Himalayan states in SDG implementation.
CM Releases Book on Uttarakhand’s 25-Year Journey
During the meeting, Dhami released ‘Uttarakhand at 25: A Himalayan State with Infinite Possibilities’, a book documenting the state’s 25-year journey.
Dhami directed officials to examine the suggestions put forward by members of the governing body and take necessary action on those found useful.
He also emphasised continued efforts in research, innovation, capacity building, policy formulation and implementation for the state’s development.
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