Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], November 13 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday participated in the Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan-2026, held at Doon University in Kedarpuram, Dehradun, and highlighted the state's progress since its formation, saying its budget had increased from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 1.19 lakh crore, while the footfall during the Char Dham Yatra crossed 65 lakh.
Addressing the Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan-2026 at Doon University in Dehradun, Dhami said the state was witnessing a positive trend, with people from Uttarakhand living across the country and different parts of the world showing an increasing interest in contributing to the development of their home state.
He said the government organises a full-day conference to bring together people from Uttarakhand living in different parts of the country and abroad, providing them an opportunity to reconnect with their villages, heritage and culture.
"First of all, we organise a full-day conference here for all our brothers and sisters from Uttarakhand who reside across the country and around the world. We invite them all, and they attend in large numbers, dedicating their time. By coming here, they strengthen our resolve, the commitment to reconnect with our villages, advance our heritage, promote our culture, and uplift our ancestral places. They have arrived in great numbers from all over the country today; I welcome and honour them all," Dhami said.
Highlighting the growing trend of people returning to their ancestral villages, Dhami said many Uttarakhandis who had established themselves outside the state were now reconnecting with their roots and even adopting their villages.
He said, "They have even begun the practice of 'adopting' their villages. This is, in essence, a return to one’s heritage, a way to reconnect with one’s roots. Over the past few years, a significant number of people have participated in our 'reverse migration' initiative, returning to their village homes. We have recorded a 44% increase in the rate of this return."
"This is a positive development for us, as there is hardly any place where people from Uttarakhand are not contributing, nor is there any field in which they are not active. In fact, I would say that the number of people from Uttarakhand living outside the state is roughly equal to the number of those still living within it. So, they will join us in the development of Uttarakhand," he said.
Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati Chairman and renowned lyricist, poet, and writer Prasoon Joshi, who was also present at the Sammelan, said he sensed considerable positive energy, particularly among young people, regarding returning to Uttarakhand and reconnecting with their home region.
Joshi said the younger generation appeared to be recognising opportunities in the state and emphasised the importance of preserving their culture and language alongside pursuing employment and business opportunities.
"My only request to the youth is that, alongside pursuing the employment or business opportunities they see, they should also make an effort to preserve and remember their own culture. For instance, if they create entertainment-focused reels, they could incorporate their native language," he said.
Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht also spoke about Uttarakhand's development, recalling the difficulties people faced in accessing basic facilities in the hill areas earlier.
Bisht said the formation of Uttarakhand had come after overcoming adverse circumstances and that the progress made by the state over the years was a matter of immense happiness.
Recalling his earlier experiences, he said travelling to villages in the hills would take several hours and sometimes even days, while reaching school would take 12 to 14 hours.
He said the situation had improved, with schools now available in localities and water reaching people's doorsteps, unlike earlier when residents had to carry water in pots balanced on their heads.
Bisht said the primary objective of the Pravasi Sammelan was to encourage people living outside Uttarakhand to contribute their services to the state and help create self-employment opportunities for its youth.
"I want our youth to progress and for Uttarakhand to move toward prosperity; that is my mission," he said.
The Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan-2026 brought together members of the Uttarakhand diaspora working in different fields across the country and abroad to discuss their connection with the state and their contribution to its development. (ANI)
Uttarakhand CM Dhami participates in Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan-2026 in Dehradun, highlights state's development
