Dehradun: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday urged the centre to extend special policy support and long-term financial assistance to Himalayan states to help them address challenges posed by climate change, ecological conservation and disaster management.Speaking at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Dhami said, “Himalayan states play a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s environmental and water security and therefore require dedicated support for climate resilience, green energy and mountain infrastructure development.”Highlighting Uttarakhand’s vulnerability to natural disasters and environmental pressures, he said, “Issues such as climate change, ecosystem conservation, carbon neutrality and disaster risk reduction should receive greater focus in national policymaking. The Himalayas, along with the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and extensive forest cover, are national assets whose protection is vital for sustainable development.”Outlining Uttarakhand’s roadmap towards the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, Dhami said the state is prioritising human capital development, skill enhancement and innovation. He highlighted initiatives to strengthen education, entrepreneurship and youth employability through smart classrooms, virtual learning platforms, startup promotion programmes and industry-academia partnerships.The CM said the state is also focusing on emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, data science and semiconductors, while promoting natural farming, horticulture, medicinal plants, wellness tourism and green energy as key growth drivers.Dhami said Uttarakhand aims to emerge as a national model for knowledge-based and wellness-driven economic development. He also highlighted governance reforms, including digital monitoring systems, online land-use clearances and initiatives to improve transparency and public service delivery.