Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Chaupal–2026 event under the 'Chief Minister’s Udyamshala Yojana' on Friday at Mukya Sevak Sadan, located in the Chief Minister's office. He announced that this scheme has already provided support to over 13,000 entrepreneurs across the state. Furthermore, more than 8,000 women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Group members have been involved in employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
During the opening ceremony, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a regional marketing center in 13 Gaon, situated in the Dehradun IT Park. This center will be dedicated to facilitating the sale of products created by Self-Help Groups from all districts of Uttarakhand.
Addressing the attendees, the Chief Minister emphasized that the villages of Uttarakhand today are not just participating in the state's development but are also playing a vital role in building a self-reliant Uttarakhand through their capabilities and hard work. He noted that the energetic youth and enterprising women of the state possess the desire and skills to achieve significant results, and local products of Uttarakhand have enormous potential to reach national and global markets. However, in his view, this talent needs to be given the right direction.
To this end, the state government is actively promoting the 'Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Scheme.' Through this program, the state aims to make the youth of Uttarakhand job creators, not just job seekers. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to strengthen the economic condition of farmers and women. The 'Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Scheme' serves as a key instrument for realizing this vision.
He specified that through this scheme, rural entrepreneurs receive necessary training, financial assistance, technical guidance, and support in establishing market linkages to launch and expand their businesses.
The Chief Minister reported that through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, over 500,000 rural women in the state have been linked to more than 70,000 Self-Help Groups. On the other hand, more than 300,000 women have successfully become Lakpati Didi. He added that women of Uttarakhand are transforming various goods—from mountain spices, mandua (millet), jangora (barnyard millet), and pulses to honey, pickles, and jams, as well as handicrafts, woolens, and local art—into successful enterprises.
The Chief Minister stated that the government is working to ensure that products manufactured in villages reach large cities across the country. In this regard, an umbrella brand named House of Himalayas has been created. He also mentioned that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the nation the principles of 'Voice for Local,' 'Local to Global,' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' which the state government is striving to implement.
The state aims for consumers to feel the labor, culture, traditions, and aroma of the mountain soil in any product purchased from Uttarakhand. For this reason, facilities such as rural haats, marketing centers, collection points, and agricultural service centers are being strengthened across the state so that farmers and entrepreneurs can access better markets and receive higher prices for their produce.
He also noted that one of the main goals of supporting rural entrepreneurship is preventing migration from hilly areas. The government wants youth not to be forced to leave their villages in search of work, as strong villages make all of Uttarakhand strong. In this context, the government is implementing the Gramothan Project (REAP) to connect extremely poor families in villages with earning opportunities and increased employment in rural areas.
The Chief Minister reported that 'Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Chaupals' are being conducted in all 13 districts of the state. The goal of these meetings is to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of government programs and give them the opportunity to benefit from them. For this purpose, mobile information vans are also sent to villages so that information about the 'Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Scheme' reaches every member of society.
During the event, the Chief Minister honored Lakpati Didis and women entrepreneurs. He also released a book and an annual report prepared under the Uttarakhand Rural Livelihood Mission. Additionally, the Basic Training Module for Integrated Agricultural Cluster, the Infant and Young Child Nutrition Module, and the Anemia Prevention and Treatment Module for Women and Children were launched.
Present at the event were Cabinet Ministers Shri Bharat Chaudhary, Shri Ganesh Joshi, and Shri Hadjan Das, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Naresh Bansal, MLA Shri Umesh Sharma Kau and Mrs. Savita Kapoor, Secretary of Rural Development Shri Diraj Garbhyal, and other concerned officials.