President Murmu addresses U’khand Assembly at Silver Jubilee session, hails UCC roll-out
By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Nov: President Droupadi Murmu today addressed a special session of the Uttarakhand State Assembly organised to mark the Silver Jubilee of the state’s formation. Earlier, on her arrival, she was welcomed at the Vidhan Sabha Building by Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd), Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal and the Leader of the Opposition, Yashpal Arya.
Extending greetings to former and current legislators and all residents of the state, she recalled that Uttarakhand was created in November 2000 during the tenure of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, fulfilling the aspirations of the people for better administration and balanced development. She added that over the past twenty-five years, the state has made remarkable progress in sectors such as environment, energy, tourism, education, and healthcare, while infrastructure and digital connectivity have also expanded significantly.
Murmu noted that the state’s Human Development Index parameters have improved with rising literacy, greater access to women’s education, and declining maternal and infant mortality rates. She also commended the state’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible and lauded ongoing initiatives for women’s empowerment, calling them a continuation of the legacy of Sushila Baluni, Bachendri Pal, Gaura Devi, Radha Bhatt, and Vandana Katariya. She added that the appointment of Ritu Khanduri Bhushan as Uttarakhand’s first woman Speaker has further enhanced the Assembly’s prestige and expressed hope for greater participation of women in the state legislature.
Referring to Uttarakhand as Dev Bhoomi, the President said that spirituality and valour flow from this land, symbolised by the Kumaon and Garhwal Regiments. She said the youth of Uttarakhand possess a deep sense of patriotism and pride in serving the nation. She added that many public servants from the state have strengthened India’s democratic traditions through their commitment and integrity.
Appreciating the Uttarakhand Assembly for passing the Uniform Civil Code Bill, she said this step was in line with the spirit of Article 44 of the Constitution and the vision of its framers. Over 550 bills have been passed by the Assembly, including the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Bill, and the Anti-Copying Bill, strengthening transparency, ethics, and social justice in governance. Quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, she said the essence of parliamentary democracy lay in “continuing accountability”, urging legislators to stay connected with the people and serve them with sincerity and dedication.
Drawing from her own experience as an MLA, President Murmu said that active engagement with the public keeps the bond of trust between representatives and citizens unbroken. She appealed to members to pursue development and welfare work with full dedication, transcending party lines, and to remain especially sensitive to the needs of the marginalised.
She also expressed satisfaction over the introduction of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the Assembly, through which two sessions have already been conducted. This initiative, she said, enables legislators to adopt best practices from Parliament and other Assemblies. Murmu emphasised that Uttarakhand should continue to move forward while preserving its rich natural heritage, expressing confidence that the MLAs would uphold the aspirations of the people and work in the spirit of “Nation First.”
Earlier, Governor Gurmit Singh, in his address, described the past twenty-five years as a golden era of Uttarakhand’s development, marked by good governance, women’s empowerment, and infrastructure growth. He thanked the President for her guidance and affection, saying her presence had infused new inspiration among the people. He said the special session was an occasion to review the state’s achievements and lay a fresh roadmap for the future. The Governor emphasised that Uttarakhand’s development must remain inclusive and sustainable, giving the mantra of “Prosperous Villages, Empowered Youth, Strong Women, and Safe Environment.”
He said the government aims to develop Uttarakhand into a model state for spirituality, education, healthcare, tourism, organic farming, and green energy. Efforts were being made to check migration, provide a global identity to local products, and integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology.
CM Dhami, in his welcome address, expressed gratitude to the President for her inspiring presence, describing her life as an example of courage, dedication, and service. He said her personality represents a blend of maternal compassion and unwavering commitment to national service. Despite personal adversities, she has worked with the spirit of “Nation First” and contributed immensely to the welfare of tribal and marginalised communities, following the ideals of Bhagwan Birsa Munda when she was Governor of Jharkhand.
Dhami said the President’s historic address to the Uttarakhand Assembly would be remembered in golden letters, inspiring the state’s progress over the next twenty-five years. He pointed out that this was the second time a President had addressed the House, the earlier being the late President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015. The CM claimed that as Uttarakhand prepares to celebrate its 25th Formation Day on 9 November, every citizen feels a sense of pride and emotion for the state created through the struggles and sacrifices of countless agitators, women, and youth. He bowed in reverence to all known and unknown activists of the statehood movement and expressed confidence that, with the President’s blessings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, and public cooperation, Uttarakhand would soon emerge as a strong, self-reliant, and prosperous state.
Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan said it was a moment of immense pride for the Assembly that the President addressed its special session on State Formation Day. She recalled that the first meeting of the Uttarakhand Assembly was held on 12 January 2001, following its creation under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and since then, the Assembly has upheld high democratic traditions. She said the sacrifices of the statehood agitationists continue to inspire all round development, adding that women have played a vital role in every sphere of Uttarakhand’s progress, from environmental protection and agriculture to social reform and the statehood movement. The President’s address, she said, has filled the women of Uttarakhand with renewed pride and motivation.
The Speaker noted that, over twenty-five years, the Assembly has passed more than five hundred bills, including the Women’s Reservation Bill, and has consistently risen above party politics to serve the public interest. She mentioned that in keeping with public sentiment, Bhararisain–Gairsain has been declared the summer capital to ensure the development of the hill regions.
She informed the gathering that the International Institute of Parliamentary Studies, Research and Training, approved by former President Pranab Mukherjee, has been established at the Bhararisain (Gairsain) Assembly and is being developed as a premier Centre of Excellence in legislative and policy research.
Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya welcomed the President, describing Uttarakhand as a unique state in all respects, blessed with natural wealth and strategic significance as its borders touch Tibet and Nepal. He praised the role of women in protecting the state’s natural resources, citing the Chipko Movement as a global symbol of environmental consciousness. Arya expressed hope that the President’s address would provide fresh energy and direction to legislators and strengthen the collective resolve to build a prosperous and progressive Uttarakhand.
