Mass migration in 9 Uttarakhand mountainous districts

A significant demographic shift is under way in Uttarakhand.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

While the nine mountainous districts of the hill state are witnessing a rapid exodus of people, its four plain districts — Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital — are grappling with a surge in population growth.

This imbalance is affecting the social and economic fabric of the areas. "If no concrete measures are taken to stem this migration before the next delimitation, the political existence of the mountains will be weakened," warns Anoop Nautiyal, founder of Social Development for Communities (SDC).

While a delimitation commission is yet to be formed in the state and a census is pending, unlike in South India, Uttarakhand's concerns stem from its own unique demographic shift — internal migration.