Uttarakhand CM’s initiative to invite experienced innovative ideas for the state’s development through RAIBAAR

The government of Uttarakhand and its chief minister has taken a constructive initiative today at Dehradun by fructifying the efforts of the chief organiser of Hill Mail and journalist of Aaj Tak Manjeet Negi by way of becoming an active part and parcel of the RAIBAAR( Message) programme which involved the officials, bureaucrats and Chief of the Indian Army to share their pivotal experiences and innovative ideas for the over all development of Uttarakhand and to encourage the process of reverse migration which is one of the most serious problem of the 17 year old state.

Prominent amongst those who participated in this government sponsered event were the chief minister, Uttarakhand, the popularly known turn around engineer turned bureaucrat and chairman of Railway Board Dr. Ashwani Lohani, IRS , General of Indian Army Vipin Rawat, RAW chief Rakesh Dhasmana, DG of Military Intelligence Anil Bhatt, Rajendra Singh DG Coast Guard, Acharya Bal Kishan of Patanjali Yog Peeth, CBFC chairman and film maker, writer Punya Prasoon Joshi and others.

The name of the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his son Shaurya Doval were also publicised extensively but both of them were conspicuous by their absence. As given to understand, this RAIBAAR proposition, meaning message in Garhwali dialect has been primarily devised by the chief minister Uttarakhand to mesmerise the innocent electorates of Uttarakhand emotionally that the government of Uttarakhand is inviting the leading bureaucrats, engineers, corporates and even generals of Uttarakhand, still working or retired to come to the state an part with their professional experiences, know how, expertise and innovatve ideas so as to accelerate the developmental programmes of the state to much higher level and in wider public interest.

This event was specifically organised just 4 days before the 17th foundation day of Uttarakhand with a credible motive to send a message across a wide spectrum of the people that the government of the state is really serious about the welfare of the people of Uttarakhand. But the event backfired in the eyes of the vernacular press as no media person except a negligible few were allowed to enter the venue of the event and the programme was lacking the concept of participatory democracy as apart from the fourth estate, leaders of opposition political parties, the true andolankaries of Uttarakhand, the writers, journalists, real opnion makers, those representing the grass root people, the NGOs and common public was deliberately kept out of the show making it a real VVIP event.

According to the political analysts any such event that talks of inviting valuable and pivotal suggestions of experienced icons, if lacks the concept of participatory democracy, with negligible participation of movement activists, journalists, thinkers, scholars, common masses and the people who really matter at the grass roots like environmentalists Chandi Prasad Bhatt, eminent thinker and  Padma Shree Shekhar Pathak or leaders of BEEJ BACHAO ANDOLAN Vijay Jardaari or stalwarts of globally famous chipko movement and winners of number of prestigious Indian and international recognitions like Sunder Lal Bahuguna, then there is literally no use of calling these government sponsored events which unambiguously give an impression of partial and biased approach towards resolving peoples’ issues and concerns of grass root significance.

Everybody know that today Uttarakhand and the Centre have the governments of BJP and there is no difference of opinion that may amont to difference of opinion in centre state relations. Then why do not both the governments honestly work on implementing the article 371 and Section 18 which are prevalent in the entire Himalayan region of the North East anf Himachal Pradesh that guarantee infinite concessions for hill people in development and job reservation in state services.

If the government is really so serious and anxious about the resolution of problems of the hill people of Uttarakhand and its over all development including effecting the reverse migration with generation of employment opportunities the forthwith implementation of Article 371 and Section 18 is the immediate need of the hour. Such temperory and adhok tactic like RAIBAAR and SELFIE IN YOUR VILLAGE are not going to help in reversing migration except misguiding the innocent electorates of this 17 year old state that has been achieved after so much of relentless struggle and sacrifice of 47 precious lives of youths, women and the senior citizens. People of state now want result oriented actions not biased events. What do you say friends?
Sunil Negi, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum