Local youths to be given priority in recruitment to SDRF: CM
Local youths, rendered jobless in the wake of last year''s calamity in Uttarakhand, will be given priority in recruitment to the State Disaster Relief Force, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said on Monday.

As many as 37,000 vacancies in the state will soon be filled, he said after laying the foundation stone of a polytechnic institute at Kumhadhar here.

 Financial assistance of Rs 73,000 crore was received from the Central government, out of which Rs 400 crore had already been distributed among the disaster-hit people, the Chief Minister said.

The State government will soon ensure that vehicles are equipped with anti-brake lock system as desired by the Taxi Operators Union, he said.

From 2014, the government has increased the pension of senior citizens, disabled and widows, Bahuguna said adding this will benefit 4.5 lakh people in the state. The Chief Minister said to create self employment, the government will give 35,000 shops to the youths soon.

Bahuguna also gave approval for local legislator Dinesh Dhanai''s 16-point demand, including construction of three helipads within Tehri region. The proposed helipads are to come up in Kumhardhar, Nakot and Taangala.