Dehradun, Feb. 21 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said the state government's pre-budget dialogue focused on accelerating development in hill regions, generating employment and strengthening infrastructure, asserting that the upcoming budget would be shaped by public participation. Addressing a pre-budget dialogue programme in Pauri district, Dhami said dialogue, cooperation and public suggestions were among the state's greatest strengths and would form the foundation of a people-friendly budget. The five-day Budget session of the Uttarakhand legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin in Gairsain from March 9. Public representatives from various districts, along with farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, women's self-help groups, tourism professionals, fishermen, agricultural scientists, local body members and stakeholders from different sectors participated in the interaction and offered suggestions for the 2026-27 Budget. Dhami said the government's objective was to prepare a public-oriented budget aligned with ground realities, regional characteristics and people's expectations. "The Budget is not merely a document of income and expenditure, but a roadmap for building a developed Uttarakhand with the participation of every section of society," he said. Thanking participants for their inputs, the CM said practical and forward-looking suggestions received during the dialogue would play a key role in shaping policy decisions. "We have resolved to make the budget-making process transparent, participatory and people-centric. By interacting with citizens across the state, including border areas, we are ensuring that development benefits reach the last person," he added. Highlighting the state's progress, Dhami said the state had registered significant growth in trade, industry, tourism, agriculture and women's empowerment. For urban areas, recommendations included increasing municipal resources, promoting the solar city concept, strengthening parking and sanitation systems, and upgrading overall urban infrastructure. In agriculture and horticulture, stakeholders stressed promoting mountain farming, high-value crops and horticulture, protecting crops from wild animals and strengthening post-harvest management and cold storage facilities. Cluster-based farming, technical training for farmers, district-level processing centres and development of Centres of Excellence were also suggested. In the industry and MSME sector, demands were raised for capital and interest subsidies, concessions on machinery, promotion of service-based industries and incentives for local product-based enterprises in mountainous regions. Participants also called for stronger industry linkages with ITI and polytechnic institutes to generate employment for local youth and curb migration. Under women's empowerment initiatives, suggestions included establishing district-level training centres, providing interest-free loans and giving priority to women in local services. Proposals were also made to allot land for cow shelters, promote organic fertiliser production and adopt modern fish farming techniques. Tourism stakeholders sought concessional loans for homestays, expansion of helicopter services, development of alternative routes and smaller tourist destinations, and promotion of Sanskrit villages and cultural sites as tourism hubs. Emphasis was also placed on nature and agri-tourism and the formulation of a concrete marketing policy for local products. Finance secretary Dilip Jawalkar said the dialogue was aimed at aligning the forthcoming Budget with public aspirations and development priorities while ensuring sound financial management and maximum public welfare. He noted that under Dhami's leadership, the state had made notable progress in infrastructure, tourism, connectivity, self-employment and women's empowerment....