Forced migration from hills will end in next 4 yrs: Rawat

Marking the 15th Statehood Day of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat today promised to stop the "forced migration" from the hills in the next four years and expressed confidence of a "reverse migration" trend in the coming years.
Addressing a function held here to mark the day, Rawat also presented a detailed roadmap for the development of Uttarakhand.
"The state government has been able to give the message of a safe Uttarakhand to the outside world," he said.
"With our emphasis on revival of tourism and rural economy through promotion of traditional agricultural produce, bonus on milk production, cluster-based farming and the incentives being given to local entrepreneurship, we are confident of putting an end to forced migration from the hills in the next four years and even beginning a reverse migration trend in the next seven years," he said.

Employment opportunities are being created in remote hill areas so that people are not forced by their circumstances to move to big cities in search of livelihood, he said.
Absence of means of livelihood and basic facilities like education and healthcare have "forced migration" among people from the hills in the state.

Rawat released a book titled 'Ubharta Uttarakhand, Unnat Uttarakhand' which chronicles the state's journey since it achieved statehoodon this day in 2000.
"We are yet to take development to 30-35 lakh people in the state. The remaining 70 lakh people who have already tasted development have to take along their deprived brethren so that they can share the fruits of development," he said.

Describing Uttarakhand's journey so far as "good", he said the state is one of the growing economies in the country and second in terms of GDP.
Even the 2013 natural calamity did not hinder individual productivity and there has been a increase of Rs 10,000 crore in GDP, he claimed.
He said the reconstruction work carried out in Kedarnath in sub-zero temperatures despite the massive damage done by 2013 calamity has been "miraculous".
The 10 lakh pilgrims, who visited Char Dham this year, is an indication of people's growing confidence in the solid infrastructure put up in affected areas, he added.