Uttarakhand Election 2017: Over 1000 'Ghost Villages' In State Make Migration Major Poll Issue

Dehradun: As Uttarakhand voted in its 4th assembly election on Wednesday, one of the key issues that plagued voters' minds in the hill-state was intra-state migration, which has led to a demographic drain from the hill-districts and spurred the creation of as many as 1,053 'ghost villages', uninhabited settlements, across Pauri, Tehri, Almora, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh.

Migration, which happens due to a number of  factors like the absence of education, health, employment and economic opportunities in the hill districts has also led to a vast depopulation with as many as 80 per cent villages across the 13 districts registering a population of less than 500.

Migration is not a new issue in the state, say experts. "As people develop more contacts outside their villages and cities, even beyond the state, it only encourages migration. The problem is that historically when Uttarakhand was created the majority of economic development has taken place in the four southern districts of Haridwar, Dehradun, Udhum Singh Nagar and Nainital", said Dr Ravi Chopra, of the People's Science Institute.

The plains also tend to attract migrants from the hills since livelihood opportunities are more there. Claiming that the hill districts face political neglect, retired bureaucrat SS Pangtey said,
"The Panchayati Raj Act of Uttarakhand was passed as late as 2016, meaning that local hill-governments have not been given the importance that was meant to be accorded to them during the creation of the state."

Migration made it to manifestos of many political parties as it an emotive issue for the people in the state. Speaking to NDTV, CM Harish Rawat said he was the first leader in the state to come up with a time-bound plan to end migration. The Congress government claims that by 2022 they will help encourage reverse migration in the state.

Voters however have multiple grievances. "You can't be sitting in Dehradun and be talking about the rights of the hill-people and villages", said 24 year old Anam.