1582 villages of Uttarakhand “ghost villages”, special financial package demanded
Hundreds of villages of Uttarakhand have been emptied during the last several years resulting in direct challenge to the strategic security environment of the himalayan state especially inview of its sensitive borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan.
The incessant exodus of Uttarakhand villagers to the plains have resulted in 1582 villages out of total 19793 becoming completely vacant with unwanted bushes growing in abundance, converting them into jungles, inviting wild monkeys, pigs, bears and maneaters posing direct threat to the inhabitants of the adjoining villages n surroundings as well.
There was a time when these villages used to be full of life with socio cultural n religious activities in full swing, but lack of basic facilities have compelled them to migrate to cities n towns in search of better prospects of education, health services and job avenues.
The Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt expressed these views while speaking during zero hour the other day in Lok Sabha.
Expressing his immense concern over the unabated migration of the hill populace residing in interior villages of Uttarakhand to different cities n towns of the state n metrpolises of the country, member of parliament n former Uttarakhand BJP chief, Ajay Bhatt urged upon the union government to sanction a “special financial package” to the himalayan state in order to provide basic facilities to its inhabitants in terms of improved health, educational options, construction of roads n employment opportunities etc enabling them to come back to the hilly state, encouraging” reverse migration”.
While expressing his serious concern over the enhancing migration posing direct threat to the state’s strategic security environment due to Uttarakhand’s borders alligned with China, Nepal n Bhutan, he added that sanctioning of a special financial package to Uttarakhand is utmostly essential n need of the hour not only to encourage expeditious reverse migration on wide scale but also to safeguard our porous borders with enemy countries.
Massive migration to cities, towns n metropolises of the country during the past several decades especially after the state gained a separate entity as UTTARAKHAND has been the greatest challenge to successive governments of the state ruled alternatively by BJP and Congress. It is believed that about twenty to twenty five lakhs people have migrated out of Uttarakhand during the last twenty years which saw eight chief ministers with a financial deficit in thousands of crores increasing further every year.
This has been indeed been quite a distressing trend blaming the successive governments in failing to provide adequate employment, quality education and health facilities etc to its inhabitants finally compelling them to move out in large numbers. The then Congress government led by Harish Rawat has started a HITO PAHAD campaign in 2017 n the present Trivendra Singh Rawat government pursuing SELFIE FROM THE VILLAGE campaign to encourage reverse migration compounded with strengthening stay home project in villages providing them enough subsidy but of no avail.
It may be recalled that Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt had been in controversy recently after he had lodged an FIR against the roving editor of Sunday Post Tabloid after he had filed a story on some BJP rebel lawmakers meeting the BJP chief Nadda allegedly complaining against the present CM. The story had highlighted Mr. Bhatt’s name as one of the political leader behind instigating these rebel MLAs allegedly manipulating in the state to change the current CM.
There were several statements by various journalists organisations terming his action as stifling the voice of free n fair journalism by lodging an FIR against a journalist etc. However, the Nainital High Court had thereafter revoked the FIR issuing notice to him n the state police chief seeking explanation in this regard.
