The Uttarakhand government has initiated work on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning the state as the “spiritual capital of the world.” As part of the plan, one Spiritual Economic Zone (SEZ) will be developed in each of the state’s two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon.

During a high-level meeting held at his residence on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to prepare a detailed action plan for these Spiritual Economic Zones. He said the initiative would play a key role in establishing Uttarakhand as a global centre for spirituality, culture, and tourism.

The Chief Minister said the project will focus on the conservation of the state’s religious, cultural, and natural heritage, along with the comprehensive development of pilgrimage sites and their surrounding areas. The move is expected to generate new employment and self-employment opportunities for youth and give a strong boost to the state’s economy. He instructed officials to begin on-ground implementation within the current financial year.

Dhami stressed that sectors such as yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, naturopathy, local handicrafts, mountain products, and cultural events should be promoted under the initiative. He added that these steps will further enrich the state’s tourism offerings and strengthen Uttarakhand’s image as the “Spiritual Capital.”

The Chief Minister also emphasised improving the arrangements for winter tourism, calling for better basic facilities at winter destinations, including travel, accommodation, transportation, and security. He directed officials to give extensive national and international publicity to these destinations to attract more tourists.

Dhami said the overarching goal is to expand tourism, raise the standard of living for residents, and pursue sustainable development while preserving Uttarakhand’s natural and spiritual heritage. He called for time-bound monitoring and a concrete implementation strategy for all proposed schemes.

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj participated in the meeting virtually. Other attendees included BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, Resident Commissioner Ajay Mishra, Additional Secretary Abhishek Rohila, and senior officials.