Special schemes focused on mitigating migration should be implemented in the selected blocks of the State. A migration mitigation fund should also be set up and in a month all departments should present the work plan for mitigating migration.

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said this chairing a meeting on migration from the rural areas of the State at the secretariat here on Thursday.

Rawat said that special focus should be laid on the border areas of the State. Schemes to be prepared for such areas should be flexible. Attempt should be made to ensure that as many locals as possible are encouraged to live in the border areas. This is also vital from the strategic point of view, he said.

Rawat further said that the names of women should also be registered in land documents. Stating that the proportion of woman population is higher in mountain villages, he said that schemes implemented in the villages should be centered on women. Stressing on registering the names of women in land documents, he said that this will enable them to receive loans for agriculture, animal husbandry, self-employment and other aspects easily. The revenue department should made necessary provision for this, he added.

The CM further directed the Tourism department to prepare the eco-tourism policy at the earliest. The forest and tourism departments should work in coordination for eco-tourism. Stating that home-stay should be linked to other tourism activities and the market, he said that training in hospitality should be facilitated for those involved in home-stays.

The tourism department should prepare a mobile phone application providing district-wise information about wildlife, flora, tourist spots, treks, hotels, home-stays and other relevant information.

Pointing at the need for resolving the shortage of field staff in rural mountainous areas, Rawat said that special focus will have to be laid on drinking water availability. Stating that cultivation of off-season vegetables, fishery, goat-rearing and floriculture can also play an important role in doubling the income of farmers, he stressed on the need for adopting a cluster based approach.

In the villages most affected by migration, the education, health, energy and other linear departments should conduct gap analysis. Gaps found anywhere should be resolved on a priority basis, he said.