Giving a major push to rural entrepreneurship and women-led self-reliance in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated 'Chaupal-2026' under the 'Mukhya Mantri Udyamshala Yojana'. The event was held on Friday at Mukhya Sevak Sadan within the Chief Minister's Camp Office premises in Dehradun. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted that the initiative has provided essential support to more than 13,000 entrepreneurs across the state so far. Furthermore, over 8,000 female entrepreneurs and members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been directly integrated into self-employment and sustainable livelihood avenues. During the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Dhami made a key infrastructure announcement, revealing that a state-level marketing center will be set up at 13 Gaon located inside the IT Park in Dehradun. This facility will serve as a central marketplace to aggregate, promote, and sell products crafted by self-help groups from all 13 districts of Uttarakhand.
State-Level Marketing Hub Announced at Dehradun IT Park
The state-level marketing center planned at Dehradun's IT Park aims to give mountain products a organized retail presence. Delivering his address, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized that residents in Uttarakhand's rural belts are not mere passive beneficiaries of developmental projects; rather, through their hard work and determination, they are emerging as key drivers of a self-reliant state economy. He noted that the state's energetic youth and courageous female workforce possess immense talent and the drive to build successful ventures. Local organic and artisanal products of Uttarakhand hold complete capability to establish a strong presence in national and international markets. The administrative priority is to provide structured guidance and commercial channels to channel this innate potential, which forms the cornerstone of the Mukhya Mantri Udyamshala Yojana.
Transforming Youth into Job Creators and Stemming Rural Migration
Through this scheme, the state government is pursuing a structural shift in the rural economic landscape. Emphasizing the policy vision, Chief Minister Dhami stated, "Our endeavor is to ensure that the youth of Uttarakhand become job creators rather than job seekers." The strategy focuses on empowering young citizens to establish their own business enterprises rather than hunting for conventional jobs, thereby fortifying the economic standing of local farmers and women. Under the Mukhya Mantri Udyamshala Yojana, rural entrepreneurs receive end-to-end assistance, including foundational business training, financial aid, technical mentoring, and direct market connectivity.
A critical dimension of boosting rural entrepreneurship is mitigating forced migration from mountain districts. By creating sustainable livelihood opportunities within villages, the state government aims to ensure that youth are not compelled to abandon their native regions in search of employment. Resilient villages form the bedrock of a prosperous Uttarakhand. Complementing these efforts, the state is executing the 'Gramotthan Pariyojana' (REAP), which identifies ultra-poor rural families and connects them with steady income-generating activities to expand local employment options.
5 Lakh Rural Women Linked to SHGs as 3 Lakh Reach 'Lakhpati Didi' Status
The ceremony showcased significant milestones achieved in women-led rural enterprises. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), more than 500,000 rural women in Uttarakhand have been organized into upwards of 70,000 Self-Help Groups. These structured interventions have yielded notable results, with over 300,000 women successfully elevating their annual household earnings to become 'Lakhpati Didis'. Female entrepreneurs across the state are transforming native agricultural and cultural assets—such as Pahari spices, Manduwa (finger millet), Jhangora (barnyard millet), pulses, natural honey, pickles, fruit jams, traditional handicrafts, woolen garments, and indigenous art—into viable commercial products.
To ensure these rural goods reach lucrative markets in major Indian cities, the state government has established an umbrella brand titled 'House of Himalayas'. This centralized brand provides standardized packaging, quality assurance, and commercial reach, eliminating middlemen and securing optimal price realization for rural producers.
Ground Implementation of PM Modi's 'Vocal for Local' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'
Chief Minister Dhami reaffirmed the state government's commitment to translating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national calls—'Vocal for Local', 'Local to Global', and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'—into practical outcomes on the ground. He expressed that whenever a consumer buys an authentic product from Uttarakhand, they should experience not just a commodity, but the rich heritage, cultural traditions, mountain air, and dedicated labor of the state's residents. To realize this vision, the state administration is expanding infrastructure like rural haats, collection points, marketing nodes, and agri-service centers across rural belts to provide farmers and micro-entrepreneurs with reliable market access and fair financial returns.
Statewide Rollout of Chaupal Events and Mobile Publicity Vans Across 13 Districts
To maximize community participation and ensure full awareness of government welfare schemes, 'Mukhya Mantri Udyamshala Chaupal' events are being conducted across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand. These interactive district-level forums educate citizens, artisans, and aspiring business owners on available financial subsidies, technical support, and registration processes. To reach remote and topographically challenging locations, dedicated mobile publicity vans are being dispatched village to village. This outreach initiative ensures that essential information regarding the Mukhya Mantri Udyamshala Yojana reaches the last person in society.
Felicitation of Female Entrepreneurs and Launch of Agricultural and Health Modules
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Chief Minister Dhami felicitated high-performing Lakhpati Didis and female entrepreneurs, presenting them with awards for their business accomplishments. The event marked the official release of the annual report and comprehensive booklet compiled under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission. Additionally, three strategic health and agricultural training modules were officially launched: the 'Integrated Agriculture Cluster Basic Training & Module', the 'Infant & Young Child Feeding Module', and the 'Prevention & Management of Anemia in Women & Children Module'.
The inauguration was attended by prominent political figures and administrative officials. Key dignitaries present included Cabinet Minister Bharat Chaudhary, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, MLA Savita Kapoor, Secretary of Rural Development Dhiraj Garbyal, alongside senior government officers.
