Lack of basic amenities in rural areas cause for exodus: Javadekar

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 31

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) Prakash Javadekar today said lack of basic amenities in villages was the main reason behind rising migration from the village areas to cities.

Javadekar while addressing a workshop at Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) village in Dehradun said the Modi government at the Centre was laying much emphasis on rural development schemes that were meant to provide livelihood opportunities in the villages.

He also took the opportunity to release a book on Bee Keeping in Himalayan Region authored by scientist Dr Dipti Pandey. The minister referred to the importance of bee keeping and called for its adequate encouragement. The minister also visited food processing, bio gas, spring recharge, water mill and other units of HESCO.

Earlier, HESCO’s founder Anil Prakash Joshi spoke on the concept of Ecological Economy Green Road Map, brainchild of HESCO. He said HESCO way back in 2010 started observing September 9 as the Himalaya Day in order to highlight the concerns of entire Himalayan region of the country. “We started it here and now several of Himalayan states in the country are observing September 9 as Himalaya Day,” Joshi said.

HESCO’s Dr Rakesh Kumar and Dr Kiran Negi were prominent present on the occasion.