Depopulating Villages and Mobility of People in the Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

Rural out-migration is a worldwide phenomenon that is also visible in many mountainous regions, creating the impression of an abandoned landscape. In order to achieve sustainable mountain development, it is crucial to understand the various drivers and implications of out-migration in the mountains. Using both secondary and primary data on migration, this study examines different aspects of migration in the Garhwal Himalaya. Secondary data on migration were derived from a report published by the Rural Development and Migration Commission of Uttarakhand in 2018 that included migration statistics for the Garhwal region from 2011 to 2018. Primary data were collected through field surveys. Several types of migration were observed in the region, including semi-permanent migration, permanent migration, and in-migration. The study reveals that out-migration is a serious problem in the Garhwal Himalaya, as it has caused many socio-economic problems in the region. If these problems are not addressed immediately, the number of uninhabited/ghost villages in the region will increase rapidly, and the population of many villages will decline significantly. Finally, various policy measures were proposed to minimize the high rate of out-migration from the Garhwal Himalaya.