Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview with Amar Ujala, a Hindi-language daily newspaper published in India that was founded in 1948. It has 22 editions in six states and two union territories, covering 180 districts. It has a circulation of around two million copies. The interview was done in Hindi. Here is the English translation.
Question: Villages are becoming vacant in Uttarakhand, which has beautiful and immense natural wealth. The new generation does not want to live in the mountains. The migration is not stopping. What is the plan from the Center for their secure future?
Answer: I have spent a lot of time in Uttarakhand as a spiritual seeker and later as a BJP worker. The people here have lived through the problems of the mountains. Therefore, my view regarding Uttarakhand is very sensitive. As far as the problems of the mountain are concerned, these are not problems that arose in a day. The mountains have been neglected for decades. For the Congress governments, Uttarakhand became just a place for photographs, hence the people here had to demand a separate state. During Atalji’s time, the BJP government had created a separate Uttarakhand state with the idea that the focus would be on development here. But, after that, the Congress government was in power at the Center for a long time and even in the state, the Congress kept coming in intermittently. Congress does not have any vision for the development of the people here. Our government is moving forward with a big vision of development of Devbhoomi. Mountains, nature, environment, water, tourism, we are very serious about every topic. Here we are focusing on increasing connectivity, investment and increasing institutions of higher education and increasing employment opportunities. This was also the objective behind organizing the Uttarakhand Investors Summit in December 2023.
The main reason for migration of youth from the hilly areas of Uttarakhand was lack of opportunities. We are creating new opportunities here. New educational institutions are being established, so that they do not have to go far. Satellite center of AIIMS in Udham Singh Nagar, medical colleges of Pithoragarh, Almora, Haridwar, Sanskrit College of Devprayag, PMShree schools in various districts… all the institutions will provide educational opportunities in the mountains. Manaskhand Mandirmala Mission will create lakhs of employment opportunities along with tourism. Infrastructure projects and home stays are also generating employment.
Question: Air connectivity to remote mountains has strengthened in the last few years. Heli facility has been provided to Chardham pilgrims and devotees, but the road route is still difficult. When will the rail line and plans till the mountains be able to materialize?
In the last 10 years, due to the efforts of our government, connectivity has expanded not only in Uttarakhand but throughout the country. Now the government has started helicopter services to visit the pilgrimage places of Manas Khand like Adi Kailash, Om Parvat. Air services have started for Pithoragarh. Due to better connectivity and digital facilities, people’s interest in tourism as well as pilgrimage has increased. It is also true that the development work for Uttarakhand has to face huge natural challenges. Therefore, the BJP government is not looking at the development of Uttarakhand from the limited perspective of just building roads and highways. Along with development, we are also working on alternative means of transport. We are also developing heli facilities as well as alternative means like ropeways in sensitive areas. Construction of ropeway in Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib will provide a lot of convenience. After the completion of the railway line work on Karnaprayag-Rishikesh section, it will become easier to reach Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham. Jhajha-Asharodi link road is being constructed in Dehradun at a cost of Rs 700 crore. It is not that earlier the country lacked resources, it is not that earlier the country did not have the capacity. What was lacking was the vision and willpower of the people in power.
With the expansion of connectivity, now Delhi is far neither for Kumaon nor for Garhwal. For tourism and convenience, helicopter service to many pilgrimage places including Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib has also improved. Work is also being done on alternative means of transportation. Under the Chardham project, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are being connected by a 900 km long highway. With the introduction of Vande Bharat train facility, the journey from Dehradun to Delhi is being completed in less than five hours.
Question: Uttarakhand has to face frequent natural disasters. Any long-term plan for Uttarakhand, especially the hilly states, which provides security.
India has unprecedentedly expanded its capabilities in disaster management compared to previous governments. Our training, preparation, methods are of international level. We are making continuous efforts towards minimizing the damage caused by natural disasters. In the field of infrastructure, be it mega projects like highways or houses being built under PM Awas Yojana, disaster resistance and disaster resilience are being taken care of in both.
While being the CM of Gujarat, I have experience of dealing with many natural disasters. I know that if there is no political interference in rescue and rehabilitation work, the work is done at a much faster pace. There was a disaster in Kedarnath in 2013, when there was a delay in reaching the relief material to the victims. The reason for this was that the people of the royal family of Congress wanted their name and their picture along with the relief material. A few months ago, some laborers in Uttarakhand were trapped in a tunnel. Then the central, state and local administrations worked as one unit. CM Pushkar Dhami himself was encouraging the workers in the tunnel. With this coordination the challenging rescue operation was successful.
Question: You are seen as the brand ambassador of the religious and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. What is the future action plan for tourist facilities?
The people here are the brand ambassadors of Uttarakhand. I am just a servant of this Devbhoomi. This decade is the decade of Uttarakhand. There is a solid foundation behind this belief of mine. The natural beauty, ancient culture and hard work of the people here will take Uttarakhand to new heights. My endeavor is to make it easy for tourists from India and abroad to reach Uttarakhand and return with good experiences from here. Many schemes related to new railway line, highway, power plant, drinking water scheme, urban development, waste management are being run. Till 2017, there was a record of five lakh devotees reaching Kedarnath in a year. After increasing the facilities, about 20 lakh devotees came last year.
Question: Uttarakhand is also identified as a women power. What more needs to be done for the economy of the state and the empowerment of women, so that the mountains become populated.
I see the women of Uttarakhand as Maa Nanda. Women are the backbone of the family in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. These inspire me to continue my work with dedication. In 10 years, we have ensured that women also become a part of India’s growth story. Our schemes have increased facilities in the lives of women. Our government has built 12 crore toilets. In Uttarakhand also, Izzat Ghars have been built for women in more than five lakh families. Under the Ujjwala scheme, about five and a half lakh mothers and sisters in Uttarakhand have got the facility of a smoke-free kitchen. Due to the Jal Jeevan Mission, more than 13 lakh families have started getting easy access to clean drinking water. To raise the voice of the people of Uttarakhand and put forward their aspirations in the Parliament, strong candidates have been fielded. He is an experienced and down to earth leader. Will carry forward the vision of BJP and will be dedicated to making Uttarakhand a developed state.
Courtesy: Amar Ujala
