DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said the third Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan felt like “members of one family gathering at home after a long time”, as he urged migrants to turn their emotional bond with Uttarakhand into a force for its development.
Addressing 301 participants at Doon University, including 282 migrants from across India and 19 who have returned to settle in the state, Dhami said Uttarakhandis living elsewhere had preserved the state’s culture, traditions and heritage, and now their experience, knowledge, resources and capabilities should benefit Uttarakhand.
He thanked 30 participants who have adopted their ancestral villages and pledged support for local development. The Sammelan, started in 2024 to strengthen links between migrants and their homeland, Dhami said, has strengthened the government’s appeal to reconnect with villages, carry forward heritage and contribute to development in places of origin.
It also gave them an opportunity to meet, share ideas and discuss concrete ways to support their home state, he added. The event, he said, showed that distance had not weakened belonging. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan described migrants as “the state’s true brand ambassadors”.
Their experience, technical expertise, entrepreneurial skills and investment could help advance the vision of a developed Uttarakhand, he said.
The state set up the Pravasi Uttarakhand Cell in October 2022 and the Pravasi Uttarakhand Council in April 2025 to maintain contact with migrants and encourage their participation in development.
A website has also been developed for registration and information-sharing. Bardhan urged Uttarakhandis living outside the state to register online and contribute in areas including investment, tourism, agriculture, education, healthcare and self-employment.
Delhi had the largest contingent, with 91 participants, followed by Haryana with 71, Punjab with 35, Uttar Pradesh with 32 and Chandigarh with 22. Rajasthan sent 15 participants and Maharashtra nine. Gujarat and Karnataka had two each, while Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had one participant apiece.
Prasoon Joshi, chairperson of Prasar Bharati and a member of the Uttarakhand diaspora, said more people returning to the state was “a good sign”. Uttarakhand, he said, should benefit from the skills and experience of people working in different fields, including those who may have become disconnected from their roots.
Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht said he had built a house in his ancestral village and visited every six months, but was not yet returning permanently because of his responsibilities in Delhi.
“Uttarakhand is our Devbhoomi. Because of my parents and ancestors, I have been elected from Delhi six consecutive times,” Bisht said. The state government expects participation in the annual gathering to grow in the coming years, as it seeks to turn ties with the diaspora into practical support for local development.