Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual meeting with state ministers, legislators, and representatives to discuss the implementation of the revised Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, effective from September 22. He extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this decision, terming it historic.
The Chief Minister announced that from September 22 to 29, an extensive awareness campaign will be conducted across Uttarakhand to ensure the benefits of the new tax structure reach the public and business community swiftly. Ministers will lead the campaign in their districts, while MLAs will guide the programs in their constituencies.
Dhami emphasized that the revised GST framework would strengthen the state’s economy and boost the initiatives of “Vocal for Local” and “Local to Global.” Special focus will be placed on Uttarakhand’s umbrella brand “House of Himalayas,” 27 GI-tagged products, the “One District Two Products” scheme, and other local handicrafts and agricultural goods. According to him, this will create self-employment opportunities and support the vision of a self-reliant Uttarakhand.
He directed departments and local bodies to actively organize meetings at village and municipal levels, ensuring detailed dissemination of information. The Industries Department has been asked to further strengthen GI-tagged products and district-based initiatives, making them more market-oriented.
To maximize outreach, Dhami stressed using cultural platforms like street plays, folk songs, and local art forms, alongside mass media, ensuring public involvement beyond mere publicity. He highlighted that after the implementation of the new GST rates, ease of doing business will improve, benefiting both producers and consumers. Transparency in production and marketing processes will increase, allowing small entrepreneurs to connect with national and global markets.
The CM appealed to all representatives to play an active role, transforming the awareness campaign into a people’s movement, underlining that every citizen’s contribution is vital to the state’s economic growth.
During the meeting, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal explained the advantages of the revised GST rates for citizens and traders. Also present were Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, Cabinet Ministers Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, along with legislators and other representatives.
