Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Repopulation Measures
- 15 Jul 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Recently,Uttarakhand's Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission submitted a report to the Chief Minister revealing that 11 villages near the Indo-China border have no residents remaining.
Key Points
- The report was submitted following a ground survey of 137 border villages in 2023.
- Out Of the 11 villages, six are in Pithoragarh district- Gumkana, Lum, Khimling, Sagri Dhakdhauna, Sumatu, and Poting.
- Three are in Chamoli district- Rewal Chak Kurkuti, Fagti, and Lamtol and two are in Uttarkashi district- Nelang and Jadung.
- The report submitted by the commission comprises several suggestions for the government, such as:
- Promoting border tourism in those areas by relaxing accessibility norms.
- Providing 200 days' employment instead of 100 days under the MGNREGA program in the border villages.
- Develop the places situated near the 51 border villages identified as 'Vibrant Villages' by the Centre.
Vibrant Villages Programme
- It is a Centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
- It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
- It will cover 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the first phase.
- Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district adminstration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
- There will not be overlap with the Border Area Development Programme.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme
- Launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural Development, MGNREGA stands as one of the world's largest work guarantee programs.
- This initiative provides a legal guarantee, ensuring a hundred days of employment each financial year for adult members of any rural household.
- Participants engage in unskilled manual work related to public projects, earning the statutory minimum wage.
