Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired the first meeting of the Setu Commission at the Secretariat on Monday, where he called for the creation of a comprehensive vision document for the state leading up to its Golden Jubilee in 2025.
Highlighting the Commission’s key role, the Chief Minister emphasized that development should remain the topmost priority in all government efforts. He directed the Setu Commission to assess existing departmental policies and extend support to improve their implementation across various sectors.
“The Setu Commission will have an important contribution in making the state strong and self-reliant,” Dhami said, urging the body to frame a detailed roadmap comprising a two-year short-term plan, a ten-year medium-term plan, and a 25-year long-term strategy. He further stressed that, “special attention should be paid to implementation and monitoring along with planning.”
Focusing on key growth sectors, the Chief Minister underlined the potential for development in horticulture and dairy, and asked the Commission’s experts to prioritize these areas. “Work should be done towards skill development and modern training of youth,” he said, adding that the Setu Commission “will have to work as a catalyst for departments.”
Dhami also called for concise sector-wise reports from experts, which could guide various government departments with future strategies. “Subject experts should prepare brief reports on possibilities in various sectors in the state, so that departments get the right direction for future work,” he stated. He pointed out opportunities in agriculture, tourism, energy, and medicinal products as key areas for future development.
Providing an update on the Commission’s progress, Chief Executive Officer Shatrughan Singh noted that the Bridge (Setu) Commission is operating effectively. He said, “The main objective of the commission is to strengthen the socio-economic development of the state,” adding that the impact of the Commission’s work will be visible within a month.