PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Experts from various spheres have stressed on the need for stronger governance, education reforms and a cultural tourism push. These views were expressed at a dialogue ‘Uttarakhand @25: Looking Back-Looking Forward’ on the occasion of International Mountain Day at the Doon Library and Research Centre (DLRC) here on Thursday. The event centred around the recently published book ‘Uttarakhand @25’, jointly brought out by DLRC and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA).
In the session on governance, migration and security concerns, former director general of police Anil Raturi highlighted the challenges posed by rising population density, growing tourist inflow and the increasing load on the State’s road network. He stressed on the need for strengthening police preparedness and transport systems as the State witnesses a rapid surge in pilgrimage-related mobility.
Former additional director general of India Coast Guard, Kripa Nautiyal raised concerns over outmigration from the border districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi, calling it a “national security risk” as villages along the borders with China and Nepal continue to be vacated.
Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission vice chairman SS Negi said that post-Covid, nearly 75 per cent of migration within Uttarakhand has been internal, with people moving from remote villages to nearby towns. “If education, health and livelihood avenues are strengthened at the village level, outmigration can be significantly reduced,” he added.
In the session on education, environment and cultural identity educationist Kiran Sood said the Himalaya represent “a vast repository of ecological and cultural knowledge” and emphasised the need to build environmental awareness among both residents and visitors.
Academician Sudha Rani Pandey called for uniform standards in higher education across the State’s universities and argued that value-based and employment-oriented education is key to Uttarakhand’s long-term growth. Culture expert Dataram Purohit underscored the potential of cultural tourism, saying it could generate livelihoods, curb migration and reduce ecological pressure through community-led initiatives.
