In an exclusive conversation with
A few senior BJP leaders, including Satpal Maharaj and Naresh Bansal, have raised issues with the ongoing Agniveer recruitment process and asked for separate guidelines for Uttarakhand youngsters. Do you see this happening?
The recruitment of Agniveers into the Army is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary step to employ lakhs of youths in the defence forces. My government has already announced that we will prioritise the recruitment of Agniveers in our state police force, disaster response force and other departments after they complete four years of Army service. Regarding the issues in the ongoing recruitment process, defence minister Rajnath Singh and MoS defence Ajay Bhatt have been apprised of our concerns. We have requested them to reconsider recruitment parameters for aspirants from our state. We are hopeful our demands will be met.
Recently, the HC stayed the order of allowing 30% horizontal reservation to women from Uttarakhand in the state public service commission. How is your government reacting to this?
Our government is checking whether any other state provides such a reservation. We will take a call on the issue subsequently.
Uttarakhand was created with a vision to develop the hills but while urbanisation has taken place at a rapid pace, migration from hills hasn't stopped. Will this issue ever get resolved?
The migration prevention commission has worked extensively in this area but we need to understand that this issue is closely associated with the availability of employment opportunities in the hills. Therefore, our government is strengthening the agriculture, horticulture and tourism sectors. We are also upgrading the educational and medical infrastructure in the hills. Recently, we launched the ‘Him Prahari Yojana’ to help people in the hills overcome economic and social challenges. Besides, we have urged banks to ease the process of rolling out loans to people who want to set up their business here. Easy access to credit will encourage self-employment.
In your first term as CM, you made recruitment for vacant government posts a priority. A year later, how many such recruitments have been done?
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission has worked swiftly to fill all vacant positions. Exams are being held one after the other in a stipulated time frame and there is no pendency. A year ago, there were 24,000 vacancies in government departments. Today, about 50% of them have been filled. More will get filled shortly.
When do you see the rollout of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) taking place?
In May, we constituted a five-member committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to prepare a draft proposal to implement UCC in Uttarakhand. The panel members have held several meetings so far. They are consulting with all stakeholders and taking feedback from everyone to come up with the draft proposal. We shall get their report by next year. We are trying to do it as fast as possible so that Uttarakhand becomes the first state after Goa to have a uniform civil code.
There are concerns regarding the state government’s proposed land reforms. Will it become difficult for non-state residents to buy land in Uttarakhand?
There’s no denying that some people misused the old laws relating to land purchase in Uttarakhand. Therefore, our attempt through the new land law will be to check this misuse while focusing on the increased population density. However, I want to assure businesses that they will face no issues in setting up their units in our state. In fact, we are making sure that they get a single-window clearance. To provide them with better connectivity, we reduced 18% VAT in the aviation sector. Rail and road infrastructure is constantly being upgraded and expanded. Tourism has been given industry status in our state which means that hoteliers will be entitled to several benefits and exemptions granted by the government. So, it's not correct to assume that land purchase would get difficult for non-state residents.
The issue of fraud in recruitment exams has been in the news for the last few weeks. The opposition has alleged that the state government is failing on its promise of zero tolerance against corruption. How do you respond to that?
The state is taking action in every case that has come to light regardless of when the alleged fraud was carried out. We don’t see this from the prism of party politics. It is our responsibility to ensure free and fair exams. STF is making arrests almost every day and the investigation is proceeding in a transparent manner. Orders have been given to attach properties of the accused as per the law. Through these investigations, we will uphold people's trust in investigation agencies. We will ensure action against all those found guilty regardless of their party inclinations or financial clout. Simultaneously, the government is working to make sure that all upcoming recruitment exams are held as per schedule.
Another important concern is the state of finances. Uttarakhand’s debt is beyond Rs 70,000 crore now. How are you dealing with this?
Our cabinet has taken several decisions to increase the revenue sources of the state. We are also taking help from experts in this regard by trying to bring in more investment and businesses. We are also working to improve our performance in tourism and other sectors. Additionally, we are looking into ways to optimally use our natural resources and generate the maximum possible revenue through them.
Former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had promised to reduce the state’s dependence on excise. However, it didn’t happen during his tenure. Are you planning to do it in your term?
We will hold discussions on the issue in the near future and adopt the best way to reduce the state's dependence on excise revenue.
Three cabinet positions are currently vacant. When do you plan on filling these positions?
We have a set procedure as per which all appointments are made. The positions will be filled after discussions with members of the party organisation.
What are your learnings from the terms of your predecessors -- Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Singh Rawat?
Both of them did good work for the development of the state. I am carrying forward their vision and developmental works.
What’s the roadmap for developing the summer capital, Gairsain? Will assembly sessions be held there?
Gairsain has a sentimental value for all state residents. Its all-round development is our priority. Be it Independence Day or the state foundation day, I personally go there each time. We are preparing a roadmap to ensure all facilities in the town along with providing employment opportunities to the people there.
You have spoken about the vision you have for Uttarakhand in 2025 when the state completes 25 years. What works are being carried out to achieve those goals?
In 2025, Uttarakhand will observe the silver jubilee of its creation. All our departments are working to adopt best practices and emerge as a model for the nation by then. This will help Uttarakhand become a leading state in the country in terms of growth indicators. We are taking the lead in implementing the New Education Policy of 2020, Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Jal Jeevan Mission. Hydel power generation is another focus area. Not to forget, tourism and horticulture will continue to record strong growth. Recently, we recorded an upsurge in apple production and also exported millets to European nations. In the next five years, we will double the growth rate of the state.
When we talk about improving tourism in the state, the Char Dham yatra usually gets all the government attention. Also, hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital continue to record a tourist footfall beyond their carrying capacity while many other places with good tourism potential lie neglected. How do you feel this disparity can be corrected?
We are looking at planned development of multiple areas. On the lines of Char Dham yatra, our government is preparing the Manaskhand corridor in the Kumaon region. Roads leading to all religious places are being repaired to encourage a higher tourist turnout. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari are themselves overseeing these projects. Separately, the “13 districts, 13 destinations” scheme is also taking shape rapidly through which one new tourist destination is being developed in each district.
This year, you lost the election from your traditional bastion of Khatima and then won with a landslide margin in the bypoll from Champawat after just a few months. Do you plan on ever going back to Khatima or will you continue to contest polls from Champawat?
At this point, I represent Champawat in the assembly and as the area's MLA, I shoulder the responsibility to develop the constituency. At the same time, as the CM, the entire state is my work area and all regions are equally important to me. I am working for the development of each area to fulfill the dream to make Uttarakhand one of the best states in the country.
