Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Cabinet held its first meeting in Champawat district at Banbasa, near the India-Nepal international border, on October 4. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the NHPC premises.
The state government said the decision to hold Cabinet meetings outside Dehradun was aimed at bringing local issues, development requirements and regional priorities directly before the government. Dhami said such meetings would also be organised in other districts.
Focus on Border Areas and Local Development
Dhami said border areas were important in terms of security, culture and development and that the government was focusing on basic infrastructure, employment, tourism and connectivity in these regions.
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He said holding Cabinet meetings in different parts of the state would allow the government to understand local conditions and public expectations more closely and consider region-specific issues.
The meeting also featured the presentation of ‘Farra/Chhantoli’, a traditional shield associated with the Bagwal tradition of Devidhura in Champawat. The shield is made mainly from bamboo or ringal strips and has an umbrella-like shape. It was presented to Dhami and Cabinet ministers as a representation of the region’s traditional culture.
₹10 Crore for Khatima Eklavya School
The Cabinet meeting was held alongside Dhami’s participation in the three-day Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav in Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar district, which brought together tribal artists, artisans and producers from several states.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram announced that the Centre would provide approximately ₹10 crore for expansion and improvement of facilities at the Eklavya Model Residential School in Khatima. The tender process for a hostel costing around ₹4 crore has been completed, according to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The Khatima school is planned to have a capacity of 480 students, including 240 boys and 240 girls. Oram also said the school had recorded a 100% examination pass rate.
Uttarakhand Seeks More Tribal Education Facilities
Dhami requested the Union ministers to establish an Eklavya Model Residential School in the Pithoragarh region.
The Chief Minister said the state was working on tribal development through education, healthcare, employment and infrastructure. The state government also highlighted work involving Ashram-style schools, hostels and ITI institutes.
According to the PIB release, a 100-bed boys’ hostel is under construction in Bajpur, while school construction worth more than ₹16 crore is underway and ₹4 crore has been sanctioned for a girls’ hostel.
Tribal Culture Showcased at Aadi Rangotsav
The Aadi Rangotsav featured traditional dance, music, handicrafts, food and attire presented by tribal communities from states including Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Mizoram and Uttar Pradesh.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs identified Tharu, Boksa, Jaunsari and Raji among Uttarakhand’s tribal communities represented in the programme.
