Uttarakhand CM honours meritorious students, highlights state's education initiatives

Roorkee (Uttarakhand) [India], July 27 (HBTV): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honored meritorious students who excelled in the high school and intermediate board examinations at the Pratibha Samman Samaroh organised in Roorkee by Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shikshan Sansthan Uttarakhand.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said it was a matter of great privilege for him to felicitate talented students for the third consecutive year. He said the students' outstanding achievements demonstrated that dedication, discipline and strong values can help achieve any goal.

Congratulating the awardees, Dhami said the recognition would further boost their confidence and inspire them to excel in future examinations as well as in every sphere of life. He added that Vidya Bharati has laid a strong foundation for education rooted in Sanatan culture, patriotism and Indian values across the country.

The Chief Minister said the Saraswati Shishu Mandir movement, which began in Gorakhpur in 1952, has grown into a vast educational network. He noted that Vidya Bharati currently provides education and value-based learning to nearly 4.5 million students across India, while around 1.25 lakh students are studying in its 562 schools in Uttarakhand. He also praised the dedication and contribution of the organisation's teachers, volunteers and workers.

Highlighting the state's education initiatives, Dhami said Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), making the education system more modern, practical and employment-oriented.

He said the government has introduced smart classrooms and free textbooks, and is distributing shoes and school bags under the Chief Minister Meritorious Student Incentive Scheme.

He added that Bharat Darshan programmes, model colleges, IT laboratories and hostel facilities have also been introduced in government schools. He further said the 'Kaushalam' programme is being implemented to promote skill development, India's knowledge traditions and entrepreneurship.

The Chief Minister said the state government has enacted the country's strictest anti-copying law to safeguard the future of young people, adding that it has yielded positive results. He said that over the past five years, more than 34,000 youths have secured government jobs through a completely transparent recruitment process.

He also said candidates who qualify in the written examinations for competitive exams such as the UPSC, NDA and CDS are provided financial assistance of INR 50,000 for further preparation.

Calling upon students to contribute to nation-building, Dhami said they represent both the present and the future of India. He expressed confidence that their knowledge, values, patriotism and leadership would play a vital role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and restoring India to the status of a global leader.

During the programme, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Anand Swaroop Arya Saraswati Vidya Mandir Shishu Vatika.

(ANI)