Tribune News Service
Dehradun, December 1
Fairs are symbols of the rich culture of Uttarakhand as these have been an effective medium of encouraging mutual brotherhood in society since ages, said Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing the Munsiyari Mahotsava in Pithoragarh district today.
The Chief Minister said fairs were instrumental in bringing people of various categories of society together. He assured of providing more funds for festivals such as the Munsiyari festival next year.
He also called for promotion of hill products such as mandua. The state government was also promoting indigenous handicraft and would shortly open a textile park at Munsiyari, he added.
Harish Rawat said indigenous handicraft were fast diminishing and the government had framed the Chandra Singh Garhwali Scheme for reviving local handicraft in hills. The Pandit Nain Singh Rawat Mountaineering Institute at Munsiyari would also train youths for recruitment in defence forces, he added.
On wildlife conservation, the Chief Minister said a park for conservation of state bird monal would be opened shortly. The park would help in promoting tourism in the region. New trekking routes were being developed in both Munsiyari and Dharchula for tourists, he added.
A large number of residents of Munsiyari and adjoining areas were present on the occasion.