Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami gave employment certificates to 180 trained nature guides. Emphasis was laid on promoting eco-tourism, local employment and reverse migration.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually participated in a program organized at Fanto Zone of Terai West Forest Division in Ramnagar on Saturday. Joining the Chief Minister’s residence auditorium, he participated in the ‘Employment Registration Certificate Distribution Program’ organized for Trained Nature Guides. During this program, employment registration certificates were given to 180 trained male and female nature guides.
Promote local employment and self-reliance
Congratulating all the youth, CM Dhami said that these certificates are not just employment papers, but it is a recognition of the youth’s skills, hard work and their dedication towards nature conservation. He said that nature guides are playing an important role in generating employment at the local level and are also contributing to the vision of self-reliant Uttarakhand.
Dhami expressed happiness over the fact that many guides who received certificates have returned to their villages through ‘reverse migration’. He said that this not only shows his personal success but also symbolizes the growing confidence, prosperity and employment opportunities in the rural areas of Uttarakhand.
Fanto Zone: An excellent model of eco-tourism
The Chief Minister said that Fanto Zone has emerged as an excellent model of eco-tourism and community-based tourism. The rich biodiversity, dense forests, peaceful environment and abundant wildlife here are attracting tourists from India and abroad. He told that this place is becoming increasingly famous for seeing tigers, while the tree-houses built in the area are giving tourists a unique experience amidst nature. This is generating revenue for the state and also creating earning opportunities for the local people.
He said that the priority of the government is to ensure that along with environmental protection, there is also development of forests and communities living around them. Through eco-tourism, employment and self-employment opportunities are being created for local youth, women, homestay operators, small businessmen, transport operators, local product manufacturers and rural families.
State’s progress in development and employment
Referring to the completion of five years of his government, Dhami said that Uttarakhand has made significant progress in development, good governance, employment generation and public welfare. He said that programs like eco-tourism and nature guides are helping the local youth in providing dignified livelihood in their own villages.
As the “chief servant” of the state, he said it has been his constant endeavor to ensure that the youth get employment within Uttarakhand, stay in their villages, live with their families and contribute to the development of the state. The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is taking tourism beyond traditional travel. It is being linked to employment generation, self-employment, local economic development and reverse migration.
He said that new opportunities are being created through homestay, winter tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, wellness tourism, destination wedding and spiritual tourism. He said that due to these initiatives, reverse migration has increased by 44 percent, which shows that the villages of Uttarakhand are no longer just a place of memories but are becoming centers of new opportunities. Dhami said that creating employment opportunities in villages will help in preventing migration, promoting tourism, strengthening local businesses and realizing the dream of self-reliant Uttarakhand.
Nature guides are ambassadors of the state
Emphasizing the importance of nature guides, the Chief Minister said that their responsibility is more than taking tourists to the forests. He described him as an ambassador of Uttarakhand’s identity, a protector of its forests, a partner in wildlife conservation and a representative of the state’s culture, traditions and the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.
He said that nature guides not only introduce visitors to wildlife but also inspire them to respect and conserve nature. It also raises awareness that forests and wildlife are priceless assets for future generations.
Dream of a self-reliant Uttarakhand
The Chief Minister called upon all nature guides and people of Uttarakhand to strengthen their commitment to protect forests and wildlife, promote environmental awareness, enrich rural communities and connect local youth with sustainable employment. He said that the government’s dream of making Uttarakhand a leading and self-reliant state of the country by promoting public participation and tourism will be realized only through collective efforts.
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