Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami interacted virtually with state ministers, MLAs, and other elected representatives on Sunday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister stated that the new GST rates will come into effect across the country from September 22. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this historic decision. The Chief Minister said that a comprehensive public awareness campaign will be launched in the state to ensure that the benefits of the new rates reach the general public and the business community quickly. He appealed to all elected representatives to conduct awareness programs in their respective areas from September 22 to 29. During this period, the in-charge ministers will lead the campaign in their districts, and MLAs in their constituencies. The Chief Minister said that the revised GST rates will strengthen the state’s economy and will propel the state towards “Vocal for Local” and “Local to Global” initiatives. He added that Uttarakhand’s umbrella brand “House of Himalayas” and the 27 GI-tagged products, the One District One Product scheme, and other local handicrafts and agricultural products will benefit from the new tax structure. This will increase self-employment opportunities and help in realizing the vision of an Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister emphasized that all departments and agencies should make continuous efforts to make this campaign a success. He said that meetings should be organized at the village and municipal council levels to provide detailed information to people in rural and urban areas. He also directed the Industries Department to ensure that GI-tagged products and the “One District One Product” scheme are further strengthened and made market-oriented. The Chief Minister said that the awareness campaign should not be limited to mere publicity, but should also ensure public participation. For this, street plays, folk songs, and other cultural mediums will be used to convey the message to people in a simple and effective manner. He said that information will also be disseminated to citizens and businesses through various media platforms. The Chief Minister stated that the implementation of the new GST rates will not only facilitate ease of doing business but will also benefit both consumers and producers. This will enhance productivity and bring transparency to local marketing practices, enabling even small-scale entrepreneurs to access national and global markets. During the meeting, the Chief Minister urged all elected representatives to actively participate in this initiative and transform it into a people’s movement. He emphasized that every citizen plays a vital role in strengthening the economic power of the state and the nation. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal provided detailed information on the benefits of the new GST rates for the general public and businesses. The meeting was attended by Rajya Sabha MP and State BJP President Mahendra Bhatt, Cabinet Ministers Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, MLAs, and other elected representatives.
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