‘Devbhoomi’s Time Has Come’: PM Modi Promises New Global Identity for Uttarakhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday positioned Uttarakhand as the emerging “Spiritual Capital of the World” while inaugurating and laying foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹8,260 crore during the state’s Silver Jubilee celebrations at the Forest Research Institute grounds. Addressing thousands in the local Garhwali dialect, Modi highlighted the state’s transformation from a ₹4,000-crore annual budget in 2000 to over ₹1 lakh crore today, with power generation quadrupled, road networks doubled, and medical colleges rising from one to ten. The ₹8,260-crore package spans drinking water, irrigation, technical education, energy, urban infrastructure, sports facilities, and skill development initiatives across the hill state.

Modiji underscored Uttarakhand’s role as India’s spiritual heartbeat, attracting millions of pilgrims whose journeys fuel both devotion and economic growth. He digitally transferred ₹62 crore in crop insurance benefits to 28,000 farmers and praised the recent Geographical Indication tagging of Badri cow ghee as a milestone for local pride. Launching the ‘House of Himalayas’ brand, he showcased how products like Bedu fruit and traditional dishes—Dubke, Churkani, Rot, Arsa, and Jhangore ki Kheer—are reaching global markets under the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign, boosting rural incomes and cultural visibility.

The Prime Minister urged innovative measures to place Uttarakhand’s heritage on the world stage, proposing the ‘One District, One Mela’ scheme to promote unique regional festivals internationally. Through the ‘Vibrant Villages’ programme, he envisaged foreign tourists experiencing authentic mountain attire, cuisine, and hospitality in border areas, turning remote hamlets into sustainable tourism hubs. Modi described past geographical barriers as former obstacles now opening “new paths of progress” for Devbhoomi.

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As Uttarakhand marks 25 years of statehood, the massive infrastructure push signals continued central support for Himalayan development. With enhanced connectivity, renewable energy projects, and cultural branding at its core, Modi’s vision aims to blend spiritual tourism with economic self-reliance, positioning the state as both a global pilgrimage destination and a model of inclusive mountain growth in the decades ahead.

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