Uttarakhand will soon set up its first exclusive industrial park for women spread over 10 acres at Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar, Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced here on Friday.

“A specific percentage of jobs will be reserved for women in the units located in the industrial park,” he said, adding that the hilly State plans to not only skill but also create 10,000 women entrepreneurs in three years.

Addressing a meeting organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Rawat said Uttarakhand was among the “fastest growing States” and by 2018, it would grow at 18 per cent on the back of a “policy-driven” focus.

The Chief Minister claimed that the State was “one of the most peaceful” in terms of law and order, offered the “cheapest electricity” and had labour laws conducive for business.

“Only last week, the State topped the ‘ease of doing business’ in the country. We stood at 23rd position only 10 months back, today we have climbed to the top of the list,” he said.

Rawat said that among the sectors that hold potential for growth are health, education and tourism, adding that the State Cabinet would meet soon to streamline leasing of land at ‘nominal rates” for women self-help groups for cooperative fruit and vegetable farming, floriculture, dairying among others.

The State also proposed to initiate weekly women ‘haats’ to promote sale of products made by women across the hilly region.

Rawat’s outreach programme to invite investments into the State comes at a time when youth unemployment is leading to large-scale migration. “Distress migration is a big challenge,” admitted the Chief Minister, adding that by 2018-19 “we should be able to check it.”

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