Uttarakhand CM honours meritorious students, highlights state's education initiatives
Roorkee, July 27
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honoured meritorious students who excelled in the High School and Intermediate Board examinations at the Pratibha Samman Samaroh organised in Roorkee by Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shikshan Sansthan Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said it was a matter of great privilege for him to felicitate talented students for the third consecutive year. He said the outstanding achievements of the students demonstrated that dedication, discipline and strong values can help achieve any goal.
Congratulating the awardees, Dhami said the recognition would further boost their confidence and inspire them to excel in future examinations as well as in every sphere of life. He added that Vidya Bharati has laid a strong foundation for education rooted in Sanatan culture, patriotism and Indian values across the country.
The Chief Minister said the Saraswati Shishu Mandir movement, which began in Gorakhpur in 1952, has grown into a vast educational network. He noted that Vidya Bharati currently provides education and value-based learning to nearly 4.5 million students across India, while around 1.25 lakh students are studying in its 562 schools in Uttarakhand. He also praised the dedication and contribution of the organisation's teachers, volunteers and workers.
Highlighting the state's education initiatives, Dhami said Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), making the education system more modern, practical and employment-oriented.
He said the government has introduced smart classrooms, free textbooks, is distributing shoes and school bags and there is Chief Minister Meritorious Student Incentive Scheme.
He said there is also Bharat Darshan programmes, model colleges, IT laboratories and hostel facilities in government schools. He added that the 'Kaushalam' programme is also being implemented to promote skill development, India's knowledge traditions and entrepreneurship.
The Chief Minister further said the state government has enacted the country's strictest anti-copying law to safeguard the future of young people, and that it has yielded positive results. He said that over the past five years, more than 34,000 youths have secured government jobs through a completely transparent recruitment process.
He also said that candidates who qualify in the written examinations for competitive exams such as the UPSC, NDA and CDS are provided financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for further preparation.
Calling upon students to contribute to nation-building, Dhami said they represent both the present and the future of India. He expressed confidence that their knowledge, values, patriotism and leadership would play a vital role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and restoring India to the status of a global leader.
During the programme, the Chief Minister lso inaugurated the Anand Swaroop Arya Saraswati Vidya Mandir Shishu Vatika.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see how India is balancing traditional values with modern education reforms. The anti-copying law and transparent recruitment process sound impressive. Would love to see more data on how these initiatives have improved actual learning outcomes though.
The 'Kaushalam' programme for skill development sounds promising. We need more such practical initiatives that connect education with employment. Also glad to see financial assistance for UPSC/NDA aspirants - many talented students from rural areas give up on these dreams due to lack of resources.
While the recognition is good, I wish the government would also focus on improving infrastructure in government schools. My village school still lacks basic facilities despite all these schemes. Also, the 'strictest anti-copying law' sounds good on paper, but has it actually reduced cheating? Would like to see some ground reality reports.
It's remarkable how Vidya Bharati has grown from a small school in Gorakhpur to a network serving 4.5 million students. The blend of Indian values and modern education seems to be working well. But I wonder how the 'Sanatan culture' focus affects students from other backgrounds studying in these schools?
As a teacher from Uttarakhand, I can vouch for the positive impact of NEP implementation in our state. The smart classrooms and Bharat Darshan programme have really opened up new horizons for students. But we still need more trained teachers to handle these modern tools effectively. Hope the government addresses that too! 🙏
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