CM Dhami Champions Mountain State’s Special Needs
Dehradun, May 18, 2025 — In a key step toward reshaping Uttarakhand’s economic trajectory, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the 16th Finance Commission’s delegation, led by Chairperson Dr. Arvind Panagariya, at the Chief Minister’s residence today. This high-level interaction signals the beginning of crucial fiscal deliberations aimed at aligning national policy with the unique realities of a hill state.
The visiting delegation includes notable members such as Annie George Mathew, Manoj Panda, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, along with Secretary Ritvik Pandey, Joint Secretary K.K. Mishra, and Joint Director P. Amruthavarshini — all prominent figures entrusted with shaping India’s intergovernmental fiscal future.
During the interaction, CM Dhami presented a detailed picture of Uttarakhand’s specific challenges — from infrastructure limitations in mountainous terrain to recurrent natural disasters and constraints in resource generation. He emphasized that fiscal allocations must reflect these unique geographical and socio-economic realities.
“For Uttarakhand, financial planning isn’t just about numbers — it’s about resilience, equity, and long-term sustainability in some of the country’s most difficult terrains,” the Chief Minister remarked, while calling for formula adjustments in revenue sharing that favor states with difficult topography and limited economic scalability.
The Finance Commission is scheduled to hold an extended meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, where the state will formally submit its fiscal proposals. Additional sessions are expected with representatives from urban bodies, panchayats, and political parties to ensure comprehensive grassroots perspectives are included.
The state leadership team present at the meeting included Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, and Finance Secretary Dilip Jawalkar, alongside key officials from the finance department.
This interaction marks the start of what officials are calling a “strategic fiscal engagement” — not just a routine visit, but an opportunity to reimagine the center-state financial relationship with Uttarakhand’s unique needs in sharper focus.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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