Ghost Villages, Abandoned Lives: The Troubling Consequences of Out-migration in Uttarakhand

Between 2008 and 2018, 500,000 people left Uttarakhand. In the four years from 2018 to 2022, there has been a significant increase in migration, with 3,35,000 people abandoning the state. This trend indicates a growing concern about people leaving Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand, popularly referred to as the 'DevBhoomi,' is a hilly state in India that is home to a significant number of abandoned and uninhabited villages, commonly known as ghost villages. According to a recent report by the Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission, the number of ghost villages in the state is on a constant rise due to migration. People migrating from the marginal areas adjoining international borders of China and Nepal too has been an alarming trend.

As of 2011, there were 1,034 uninhabited villages in Uttarakhand. However, this number increased by 734 villages between 2011 and 2018, resulting in approximately 1,800 uninhabited villages and highlighting a significant trend of depopulation in the state. This is a worrying figure because it indicates that more than 10 percent of the total 17 thousand villages in the state are deserted. Every 10th village in the state has a meager populace.

The Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission (RDMPC) of Uttarakhand recently presented its interim report for the years 2018-2022 to the state government. While RDMPC Vice Chairperson S. S. Negi claimed a fall in permanent migration, the data presented in the report indicates an overall increase in the number of people leaving the state over the last five years.

According to the interim report, a total of 3.07 lakh people migrated from different parts of the state, particularly from hilly areas, between 2018 and 2022. Out of these, 3 lakh people from 6,436 villages of 92 blocks opted for temporary migration, which means that they did not leave their homes in the villages permanently. However, during this period, 28,631 people of 2,067 villages in 72 blocks moved out permanently. The report suggests that the trend of out-migration has continued despite efforts to prevent it. It also indicates that no much progress has been recorded in the young state even after 22 years of its formation. Uttarakhand was formed in the year 2000 after restructuring Uttar Pradesh. Uttrakhand has 13 districts with two divisions Kumau (6 districts) and Garhwal (7 districts).

Glaring figures indicate severity

Social activist and founder of a voluntary organisation Social Development for Communities (SDC) Anoop Nautiyal points out that while the government claims a decline in permanent migration, the glaring figures reveal that migration has been increasing since 2008. The first report submitted by the commission for the review period 2008-2018 indicated that more than 5 lakh people had migrated from their native places in ten years, whereas the recent second report showcases data between 2018 to September 2022, indicating that a total of 3.35 lakh people out-migrated in the past four and a half years.

Nautiyal also highlights the lack of basic infrastructural development such as road networks, and educational and health facilities, which are among the main reasons behind migration. "Of the total 17 thousand villages, 6,300 villages do not have roads, which means that four in every ten villages do not even have basic road facilities." Nautiyal terms it as distressed migration, where youths are forced to move out to other places in search of livelihood options and job opportunities. Hilly terrains like Tehri Garhwal, Pauri, and Almora are the worst hit by migration, where youths in the age bracket of 26 to 42 years have out-migrated, leaving their elderly parents behind.

Distressed Migration cause of concern

There are several reasons why villages in Uttarakhand have become abandoned. One of the main reasons is migration, which has caused people to leave their homes in search of better living conditions, education, or employment opportunities in urban areas. Many families have moved to big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Bengaluru, in search of better opportunities, leaving their native villages unoccupied. Additionally, natural disasters such as landslides, floods, earthquakes, and droughts, have been responsible for the forced abandonment of some villages. Environmental degradation, caused by deforestation, overuse of natural resources, and climate change, has also contributed to the deterioration of living conditions in some rural communities.

According to sociologists, the consequences of uninhabited villages are significant. " When villages become abandoned, the livelihoods of local communities are disrupted, and families are forced to abandon their ancestral homes and lands. In some cases, it leads to the loss of cultural and traditional practices that have been passed down from one generation to the next" Dr. Rajkumari Ahir, assistant professor- Sociology department at Udaipur's Sukhadia University emphasized. Empty villages also create security risks since unmonitored areas are more prone to criminal activities, including illegal logging and wildlife poaching. Moreover, abandoned villages attract the encroachment of land grabbers and pose a risk for the environment as they are often prone to uncontrolled forest fires.

The government of Uttarakhand has initiated various projects to rehabilitate and revive ghost villages. One of the schemes, the Mukhya Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojna, is aimed at making holistic and sustainable development in the state's rural areas. It seeks to improve the living conditions of people in remote areas by providing them with better healthcare facilities, sanitation, drinking water resources, housing, and education. Other initiatives, like the Mukhya Mantri Gramya Paryatan Vikas Yojna, is helping to promote tourism in the region, providing alternative livelihood opportunities such as homestays and recreational activities aimed at bringing revenue and development in rural areas.

Almora, Tehri and Pauri Lead as Migration Hubs

The issue of out-migration from the hill areas of Uttarakhand is a pressing concern, and it has resulted in the desertion of many villages, which are being labeled as ghost villages. The fact that there are some 44 villages with a population of fewer than 10 persons is a cause of worry for policymakers. Pauri district in the Garhwal region and Almora district in the Kumaon region have the highest number of ghost villages in Uttarakhand.

According to the report, there are nine villages in Tehri, five in Champawat, three each in Pauri and Pithoragarh, and two each in Almora and Chamoli, that are completely uninhabited. In total 24 villages are reported to have depopulated after 2018. The highest number of depopulated settlements are the 9 revenue villages of Tihari Garhwal district.

The phenomenon of ghost villages has serious implications for the state's socio-economic growth and highlights major challenges faced by rural communities in the state.

It is important that policymakers and stakeholders work together to address this issue and implement measures that support the development of these areas and prevent out-migration.

Key areas unexplored

Critics also point out the limitations of areas covered in generating self-employment activities. Anoop Nautiyal highlights that the four areas where self-employment opportunities have been identified are multi-purpose shops, milk production, vegetable production, and taxi services.

"There has been no innovative approach or out-of-the-box thinking by the government to create employment opportunities in emerging fields like IT or tourism," claims the activist.

Similarly, although Uttarakhand has renowned shrines and centers of spiritual importance, the authorities have failed to explore employment opportunities in tourism despite the fact that lakhs of people from far and wide come to visit these holy places every year. The state has Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Hemkund Sahib, which receive a great number of footfalls each year.

Threat of Climate-Induced Migration

Uttarakhand is highly vulnerable to climate change, and climate-induced migration is already a significant concern for the state. The effects of climate change including floods, landslides, forest fires and droughts are intensifying in the region and impacting the livelihoods and well-being of its people. According to experts, the drastic impact of climate-induced migration is predicted for Uttarakhand in the future, unless effective adaptation measures are taken.

Joshi Math is the perfect example for climate induced migration. The town that has been significantly affected by land subsidence, has been witnessing a consistent wave of out-migration. As the crisis worsened, approximately 400 families have left Joshimath over the past 2 month s and migrated to other places like Dehradun and Gopeshwar, according to local residents. This figure represents around 8-10% of the town's total population, which suggests an alarming trend. Atul Sati, the convenor of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, a citizens' collective, highlighted that the migration rate may continue to increase unless the state government implements immediate remedial measures. However, the district administration's data suggests that only 117 families have officially migrated from their homes thus far, either to their relatives' places outside Joshimath or by renting new dwellings.

Preventing environmental migration

The impacts of climate change are expected to exacerbate migration in the region as more individuals are likely to migrate in search of better economic and social conditions. As rural farming communities face worsening agricultural productivity due to climate change impacts, they may be compelled to migrate in search of opportunities elsewhere. The lack of functioning infrastructure, cultural and geographical obstacles, and a deficit of livelihood opportunities in the hilly region of Uttarakhand further amplify the effects of climate change and related migration.

Social Activists claim that if appropriate action is not taken to address the root causes of environmental migration, Uttarakhand is likely to witness more ghost villages and displacement in the future. Experts suggest, it is vital, the policymakers, environmental agencies, and communities work together to take proactive measures to adapt to the changing climate, protect affected communities, and ensure sustainable development and economic resilience in the region.