The News Freedom
Dehradun, December 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to the rich, the affluent and the youth of the country to initiate the movement ‘Wed in India’ along the lines of ‘Make in India’. He requested them to perform and organise at least one marriage ceremony in Uttarakhand in the next five years. “Even if 5000 weddings take place in one year in Uttarakhand, a new infrastructure will come into place and transform the state into a wedding destination for the world”, the Prime Minister said in his inaugural address during ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ held at Forest Research Institute at Dehradun of Uttarakhand.
He stressed the investors to make it a priority to explore and create opportunities in the Yoga, Ayurveda, Teertha and adventure sports sectors.
The Prime Minister said that a strong wind of change is blowing in India and an aspirational India has been created in the last 10 years. “A large chunk of the previously deprived population is being connected to schemes and opportunities. Crores of people who have come out of poverty are giving new momentum to the economy. Both neo middle class and Middle class are spending more “We have to understand the potential of India’s middle class. This power of society in Uttarakhand is also creating a huge market for you”, Modi said.
Delighted to see global investors converge at the Uttarakhand Investors' Summit. This will significantly contribute to the state's development journey. https://t.co/vP1P2K3hvB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2023
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed his happiness for being in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and remembered his utterance about the third decade of the century being the decade of Uttrakhand. Modi said that it is a matter of satisfaction that the statement is being realised on the ground. The Prime Minister complimented the state government and all those involved in the successful rescue project of workers from the tunnel at Silkiyara.
Reiterating his close association with Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister said that Uttarakhand is a state where one feels divinity and development simultaneously. The Prime Minister recited one of his poems to further elaborate the feeling.
Referring to the investors present on the occasion as the heavyweights of the industry, the Prime Minister drew the analogy of a SWOT analysis carried out by the multinationals and emphasized performing this exercise on the nation. He highlighted that the results of the SWOT analysis will indicate an abundance of aspirations, hope, self-confidence, innovation and opportunities in the country. He also mentioned the indicators of policy-driven governance and the resolve of the citizens for political stability. “Aspirational India desires a stable government rather than instability”, the Prime Minister said as he threw light on the recently concluded Assembly Elections and underlined that the people voted based on good governance and its track record.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the country’s capability to move forward at a record pace irrespective of the COVID pandemic and the unstable geo-political scenario. “Be it Corona Vaccine or Economic Policies, India had trust in its capabilities and policies”, the Prime Minister remarked. As a result, the Prime Minister said that India stands in a league of its own when compared to the other large economies of the world. He noted that every state in India including Uttarakhand is reaping the benefits of this strength.
The Prime Minister reiterated the benefits of a double-engine government whose double efforts are visible everywhere. While the state government is working keeping in mind the local realities, the Government of India is making unprecedented investments in Uttrakhand. Both levels of government are augmenting each other’s efforts.
Referring to the work going from rural areas to Char Dham, the Prime Minister said that the day is not far when the distance between Delhi-Dehradun will be reduced to two and half hours worth of travel. Dehradun and Pantnagar airport extension will strengthen air connectivity. Heli-taxi services are being expanded in the state and rail connectivity is being strengthened. All this is creating new opportunities for agriculture, industry, logistics, storage, tourism and hospitality.
Contradicting the approach of the previous governments which granted limited access to places located on the border areas, the Prime Minister underlined the double-engine government’s efforts to develop them as the first village of the country. He mentioned the Aspirational Districts and the Aspirational Blocks Program where the emphasis is being laid on villages and regions that lagged in development parameters. Modi highlighted the untapped potential of Uttarakhand and urged the investors to make the most out of it.