Chief Minister Udyamshala Scheme: CM Dhami: On Friday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated “Chaupal-2026” under the “Chief Minister Udyamshala Scheme” at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan, located at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office. Speaking on the occasion, he stated that more than 13,000 entrepreneurs in the state have received support through the Chief Minister Udyamshala Scheme so far. Additionally, over 8,000 women entrepreneurs and members of self-help groups have been connected to opportunities for entrepreneurship and livelihoods. During the inaugural session, he announced the opening of a state-level marketing center at ’13 Gaon’ in Dehradun’s IT Park to market products from self-help groups across all districts of the state.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Chief Minister stated that today, our villages are not merely participating in the state’s development but are also playing a pivotal role in building a self-reliant Uttarakhand through their own capabilities and hard work. He noted that the state’s enthusiastic youth and courageous women possess the drive and talent to achieve great things, just as local products have the full potential to reach markets across the country and the globe. All that is needed is to steer talent in the right direction. With this vision, the state government has taken steps to advance the “Chief Minister Udyamshala Scheme.” Through this scheme, the government aims to ensure that the youth of Uttarakhand become job creators rather than job seekers, while also strengthening the economic status of farmers and women. The “Chief Minister’s Udyamshala Scheme” is a significant means of translating this vision into reality.
He stated that through this scheme, rural entrepreneurs are being provided with the necessary training, financial support, technical guidance, and assistance in connecting with markets to start and expand their businesses.
The Chief Minister stated that, on one hand, more than 5 lakh rural women in the state have been linked to over 70,000 self-help groups through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, while on the other, more than 3 lakh women have successfully become ‘Lakhpati Didis’. He stated that the women of the state are turning everything—from hill spices to Mandua, Jhangora, pulses, honey, pickles, jams, handicrafts, and woollen products, as well as local art into commercial ventures.
The Chief Minister stated that the government is making efforts to take village products to major cities across the country. Working towards this goal, an umbrella brand named ‘House of Himalayas’ has been created.
He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us mantras such as ‘Vocal for Local,’ ‘Local to Global,’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India). The state government is making concerted efforts to translate these visions into reality. The government desires that whenever a person purchases a product from Uttarakhand, they should be able to sense the hard work of the hills, the culture, the traditions, and the very fragrance of the soil within that product. That is why facilities such as rural haats, marketing centers, collection centers, and agri-service centers are being strengthened in the state today, enabling farmers and entrepreneurs to secure better markets and better prices for their produce.
He stated that a major objective of rural entrepreneurship is also to curb migration. The government wants to ensure that the youth are not compelled to leave their villages in search of employment, because a strong village means a strong Uttarakhand. Working in this direction, the government is also striving to boost rural employment opportunities by linking the poorest families in villages to livelihoods through the “Gramotthan Project” (REAP).
The Chief Minister stated that “Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Chaupals” are being organized across all 13 districts of the state. The objective of these gatherings is to ensure that as many people as possible learn about government schemes and avail themselves of their benefits. With this same aim, publicity vans are being sent to villages to ensure that information regarding the “Mukhyamantri Udyamshala” scheme reaches even the last person in society.
During the event, the Chief Minister honored ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and women entrepreneurs. He also released a book and an annual report prepared under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission. Furthermore, he launched modules on integrated agricultural cluster basic training, infant and young child nutrition, and the prevention and management of anemia among women and children.
Cabinet Ministers Bharat Chaudhary, Ganesh Joshi, and Khajan Das; Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal; MLAs Umesh Sharma Kau and Smt. Savita Kapoor; Rural Development Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal; and concerned officials were present on this occasion.
