Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh chaired a meeting to review arrangements for a meeting of the NITI Aayog member proposed later this month regarding mitigation of migration from rural areas of Uttarakhand.
A detailed discussion was held with officials concerned of various departments on efforts being undertaken to stall migration and measures planned in the future.
Singh instructed that a concrete work plan should be presented before the NITI Aayog for stopping migration from villages especially in border areas. For the 284 villages in border development blocks marked with more than 50 per cent migration, he directed inclusion of plans for boosting employment and enhancing economic resources.
The plans should be made incorporating the recommendations made by the Rural Development and Migration Commission (RDMC) and considering the identified villages.
The RDMC vice chairman Sharad Singh Negi said that industrial units and livelihood/employment generation schemes in rural areas should be strongly advocated in the state level bankers meet.
Youth in migration affected villages can be provided better employment opportunities through MSME as in the past too this has achieved positive results. Finance secretary Amit Singh Negi directed officials to present concrete plans to the NITI Aayog. Departments should made concrete plans for livelihood and employment generation, quality education and better medical treatment facilities for villages affected more by migration.
The Rural Development principal secretary Manisha Panwar informed that the department had established 15 new growth centres. Tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar informed that to mitigate migration, the tourism department is encouraging home-stay scheme, developing new tourist destinations and attempting to ensure participation of local youth in tourism activities.
The Industry director Sudhir Nautiyal informed that the department has included in its work plan the publicity of MSME schemes in identified villages with more than 50 per cent migration.
Additional chief secretary Om Prakash spoke on the schemes of the Public Works Department. Principal secretary Anand Bardhan, secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram, principal chief conservator of forests Jai Raj and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.