Ghost Villages in Uttarakhand : A challenge to sustainable development

Abstract

Indian economy comprises of world largest population and almost 70% of them lives in rural area. It is very important to uplift the standard of living of the people living in rural areas and this issues is crucial in the sense as it effects the economic growth directly. Though there are various challenges in such areas including poverty, low levels of income and higher illiteracy rate leading to increase in the unemployment ratio further leading to poor health conditions. To overcome these challenges particularly in developing economies, United Nations in 2015 introduced SDGs with 193 countries as their members with a view to ensure overall development of all the sectors in the participating countries by 2030. To achieve the objectives defined, 17 goals were unanimously adopted with an aim on 169 targets, right from zero hunger, peaceful living and protecting environment with various other defined aims, with a participatory approach with a view that no one is left behind.

India being an active member took various proactive steps at national and state level with setting up of ambitious goals for every sector to ensure the integration of SDGs, with focus on defined objectives and taking into consideration the various stakeholders. This paper studies the challenges faced by Uttarakhand state in India, particularly dealing with Migration within and outside the state, which poses a big challenge to achieve the sustainable development in the state at grass root level, in spite of being ranked 19th in 2015, surged to 9th rank in 2019 and further to 3rd rank in 2022, as reflected in its ascent on the SDG Index Ranking, published by Niti Ayog, Government of India.

This research has been done to understand and highlight the grass root problem of extensive migration particularly in hilly areas having Ghost villages in particular and to identify the various reasons for the problem and to sort out the issue with the ethical implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility and to benefit all the stakeholders. Our study is based on collection and critical assessment both the data ie. Primary and secondary data.

Survey was conducted to collect the primary data, while secondary data have been collected from various report of the government for a period from 2021-2022. Data have been analysed through simple statistical techniques and graphical presentations . Based on the findings , few recommendations have been made to resolve the problem of migration