Ghost villages abound as migration rampant

BD Kasniyal

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Pithoragarh, May 12

Migration from villages due to the lack of development has emerged as a major concern in the state of Uttarakhand.

Although the state government has been claiming of making all efforts to check migration from hill villages by introducing various schemes, villagers are moving to the plain areas in search of work and a better life, leaving in their wake “ghost villages.”

Kukroni village in Salli panchayat, Champawat district, is still devoid of basic necessities like healthcare and education. Most of the families have migrated to other places in want of basic facilities.

“The village is situated 30 km from Champawat headquarters. A decade ago, there were 50 families in the village. However, now only 12 families are left in the village, which are also struggling for basic facilities,” said Kailash Ram, who has migrated to Champawat and is working as a daily wager.

Kailash Ram said had the successive government paid attention to the problem and made arrangements for basic facilities, including drinking water and education for their children up to high school, the picture would have been different today.

He said when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000, they hoped that the younger generation would not have to leave their home to look for jobs outside. However, development never reached hill villages and most of the people migrated to the plain areas in search of jobs and to make both ends meet. He said if the government still paid attention to their problems and take up their issues on priority, he would prefer to return to his village.

He said, “Even today, women in the village waste most of their time in fetching water from a natural source situated 3 km from the village.”

Mahajan Singh, who still resides in the village, said, “ We burn pinewood sticks to get light in our homes, We are not hopeful of getting power supply in the village as neither the district administration nor public representatives are making any efforts in this regard.”

The families still residing in the village said they were yet to get BPL cards as no Panchayat Department official has surveyed the village in the past one decade. “We want our village to be included in the BPL category,” said Mahajan Singh.

Villagers said in the absence of irrigation facilities, fertile fields had turned barren and houses abandoned by people had become home to wild animals, which damaged their crops every year.

The gram pradhan of Salli under which Kukroni village falls has claimed that he has forwarded a proposal of drinking water supply to Kukroni to the officials concerned. He expressed hope that their demand will soon be fulfilled.