Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honored 16 individuals, organizations, and industrial establishments with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Achiever Awards at a ceremony held at the Chief Sevak Sadan. Alongside, he unveiled the book ‘Agragami 2.0’ featuring the innovative initiatives of previous awardees and released the SDG Index Uttarakhand 2023-2024.
According to the index, Nainital district secured the first position, followed by Dehradun and Uttarkashi. The chief development officers of these districts were also felicitated during the event. The awards recognized efforts in fields like environmental protection, women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.
The Chief Minister highlighted the state’s progress in achieving SDG targets, asserting that Uttarakhand had risen from 9th to 1st rank in the national SDG India Index over the past three years. He attributed this success to government initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Protsahan Yojana, Smart City Mission, and Solar Energy Revolution.
Dhami emphasized the balance between economic growth and environmental protection, referring to the government’s “Three-Pillar and Nine-Point Policy” as a key driver of sustainable progress. However, he also acknowledged challenges like climate change, disaster management, healthcare accessibility, and sustainable agriculture that still require targeted action.
Recognition and Achievements
Among the individual awardees were Gagan Tripathi, Gurjeet Singh, and Subodh Shah, recognized for their contributions to social welfare and sustainability. Organizations like Himalayan Study Circle, Suvridha NGO, and Jagriti Seva Samiti were also awarded for their impactful work in education, environment conservation, and rural development.
Industrial establishments like Britannia Industries, Relaxo Footwear, THDC India Ltd., and Tata AIG General Insurance were lauded for integrating sustainable practices into their operations.
While the awards celebrate progress, independent experts suggest maintaining the momentum through consistent monitoring and community engagement. They stress the importance of addressing inequalities in remote areas and ensuring inclusive development across all districts.
The ceremony was attended by MLAs Savita Kapoor and Durgeshwar Lal, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Angela Lusigi, and other dignitaries.
