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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday interacted virtually with ministers, legislators, and other public representatives of the state, asserting that the new GST rates will come into effect nationwide from September 22, according to the CMO's release.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this historic decision. The Chief Minister announced that a comprehensive public awareness campaign will be launched in the state to ensure that the benefits of the new rates are quickly disseminated to both the general public and the business community. He appealed to all public representatives to conduct awareness programs in their respective areas from September 22 to 29. During this period, the ministers in charge will lead the campaign in their districts, while legislators will take the lead in their constituencies. He stated that the revised GST rates will strengthen the state's economy and accelerate progress toward the vision of "Vocal for Local" and "Local to Global." He emphasised that Uttarakhand's umbrella brand House of Himalayas, along with 27 GI-tagged products, the "One District Two Products" scheme, and other local handicrafts and agricultural goods, will benefit significantly under the new tax structure. This will boost self-employment opportunities and help realise the vision of a self-reliant Uttarakhand, a release said. The Chief Minister urged all departments and local bodies to make consistent efforts to ensure the success of this campaign. He directed that meetings be organised at the level of Gram Sabhas and urban bodies, where people in rural and urban areas can be provided with detailed information. He also instructed the Industries Department to strengthen and make more market-oriented the GI-tagged products and the "One District Two Products" initiative. He stressed that the awareness campaign should not remain limited to publicity but must ensure people's participation and community involvement. For this purpose, street plays, folk songs, and other cultural means will be used to communicate the message in an easy and impactful manner. He also emphasised the importance of utilising various media platforms to disseminate information to citizens and business owners. The Chief Minister added that once the new GST rates are implemented, they will not only promote ease of doing business but also benefit both consumers and producers. This will bring greater transparency to local production and marketing processes and enable even small entrepreneurs to connect with national and global markets. In the meeting, he called upon all public representatives to play an active role in this initiative and help transform it into a people's movement. He said that every citizen's contribution is vital to strengthening the economic power of the nation and the state. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal also elaborated on the benefits the new GST rates will bring to both the public and the business community, a release said. (ANI)
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