Border Tourism will Populate Border Villages in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

On January 5, 2023, Dr. S.S Negi, Vice-Chairman of Uttarakhand's Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission, told that the Uttarakhand government is going to take initiative to start 'Border Tourism' scheme to populate the border villages of the state.

Key Points

• For this, the details of the scheme have been submitted by the state to the Secretariat of the National Security Council. After getting the green signal from the Centre, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission to prepare the blueprint of the scheme.
• Dr. S.S. Negi told that in order to populate the border villages of the state, the state government has selected four blocks of Uttarakhand namely Bhatwadi in Uttarkashi, Joshimath in Chamoli and Munsiyari and Dharchula in Pithoragarh for border tourism. The Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission is preparing a detailed report in this regard.
• It is known that till now tourists are given inner line permits by the district magistrate to go to the border areas. Nelang and Jadung, two villages in the Ganga valley of Uttarkashi district, have been deserted for 60 years. It is also part of Gangotri national park. To go to this area, separate permission has to be taken from the Forest Department. The possibility of further simplifying this process of permission is being explored.
• According to an official of the Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission, most of the border villages are covered with snow for six months. Home stays will be prepared along with promoting agricultural products here. New tourist destinations will be identified. Local people will be encouraged in every work related to tourism.
• Dr. S.S. Negi said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, a report is being prepared to promote border tourism. The government wants the border villages to be revived, but before that, resources will have to be mobilized to meet the needs of the people there. Border tourism can be an effective policy in this direction.
• It is noteworthy that 345 km between India and China is located in Uttarakhand. There is a long border. In the Indo-China war of 1962, many villages of Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh were evacuated. Many of these villages are still deserted today. These villages bordering the country worked like a watchdog.
• Military experts believe that settlement close to the border is important from the security point of view. In view of this, the possibilities of border tourism in the border areas are being explored. Experts believe that tourism activities can be promoted until it is possible to settle people there.