PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has exhorted public representatives to raise public awareness on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. He held a virtual meeting with ministers, MLAs and other public representatives regarding the new GST rates which will become applicable across the nation on Monday. Dhami said that a large-scale awareness campaign will be undertaken in the State to ensure that the general public and business fraternity benefits swiftly from the GST reforms. He exhorted all the public representatives to conduct public awareness programmes in their respective areas from September 22 to 29.Ministers in-charge should conduct the campaign in their districts while the MLAs should do the same in their constituencies, he said. Dhami said that the revised GST rates will strengthen the State’s economy while also boosting work on ‘vocal for local’ and ‘local to global’ concepts. Uttarakhand’s umbrella brand House of Himalayas, 27 GI tagged products, one district-one product scheme and other local handicraft and agricultural produce will get a boost from the new GST rates. This will also increase opportunities for self employment and help in achievement and aim of a self-reliant Uttarakhand, the CM said. Dhami stressed that all the departments should work consistently to make this campaign a success, adding that meetings should be held at the level of Gram Sabha and urban local bodies to provide detailed information to villagers and residents of urban areas. Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal spoke in detail about the benefits which the general public and the business fraternity will gain fron the new GST rates. BJP State president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt, cabinet ministers Dhan Singh Rawat, Rekha Arya and other public representatives were also present in the meeting.