UTTARAKHAND-A HAPLESS HILL STATE

WE ARE NOT KUMAONIS OR GARHWALIS OR FROM HILLS OR PLAINS.WE ARE ALL UTTARAKHANDIS AND ARE ONE -BEYOND ALL CASTES & CREED.THEN ONLY 'HAMARE BHI ACCHE DIN AYENGE". NETAS & BABUS SHALL AUTOMATICALLY FALL IN LINE.UNITY IS THE ANSWER.

IN OUR LAND OF PRISTINE BEAUTY,WE SHALL OVERCOME OUR  CHALLENGES.LET US FACE THEM SQUARELY.

THE CHALLENGES

Out of many  states in India that can be singled out for dismal leadership ,atrocious governance & big corruption, you may include name of  Uttarakhand as one of them.

Within just two years of its birth, it's name was changed from Uttaranchal to the present one. One cannot play pranks with  a name. Names are very dear!

Till today it does not have a permanent capital.

There is 'ghatia' politics in everything.There are confrontationalists &  interventionists galore in the two major political parties- that are engaged in  casting aspersions on each other 24x7.

This sensitive Hill State has two difficult neighbours-China & Nepal.The prime reason of granting statehood to this Hill State was to provide good governance ,amp; improve & raise   the socio-economic profile of the inhabitants with special reference to those who inhabit the  border belt & are located in difficult,distant,far off, desolate & forlorn corners.

The Tourism Road map is yet to match the ground realities.There is little coordination.

You do not find either  dedicated 'Netas' or professionally competent  'Babus'.Exceptions ,however,are always there.

Thirteen long  years plus have gone past.As on date,     the State is still short of about 900 Doctors.Even             the State sponsored Medical Colleges have limited medical facilities. Almost All hospitals have become referral organisations.

The road communications are a joke with at least two accidents taking place as an average almost every       day - with alarming regularity - resulting in avoidable loss of precious human lives.

The industrial policy has not been able to climb up. 'Netas' & 'Babus' have 'hills phobia'.

Entire hill region is under forest fire.

The education policy is awful.There are a number of dilapidated school structures in villages but there are no teachers.More & more ITIs have been opened but there are no teachers again. The so called centres of excellence still impart lessons on  Lambretta Scooter & Ambassador /Premier Padmini car engines.


Women folk -the sheet anchor of this Dev,Veer & Kala Bhumi are the most neglected lot.In fact, it is they -because of whom the State is surviving.They are in a pitiable state. Aspect of women empowerment is confined to lectures & seminars.

Look at the tragedy.The 70 plus 1 'Mahanubhavs' have had  no vision & strategy to build the state. No Chief Minister or none of these 'Mahanubhavs' could fathom the damage that has now been caused by accepting Delimitation Policy.This is a special state & on the lines of Jharkhand & a few other states of the North East,the  'Netas' & 'Babus' Combine should have moved hell on  earth to ensure that Delimation Act is not enforced here- & for good reasons.

All Chief Ministers have been planted from New Delhi.They were not chosen !


The result of delimitation has been disastrous; the political representation of the Hill Districts has  been adversely affected.It has already started dwindling.The great worry is,that in the next 10 years, the number of MPs & MLAs from the Hill Region will drastically reduce  thus depriving political representation by the people. An alarming condition indeed ! Mind you,this sad spectacle shall be  recurring every ten years.

There is a distinct relationship between Delimitation ,amp; Migration, Holistic Development & Governance.

The youth dividend  lacks the 'dasha' & 'disha'.They are educated but remain a frustrated lot.They are being exploited by the 'Netas'.

Unemployment is rampant in spite of the fact that the percentage of literacy is about 76%.

Make no mistakes, Uttarakhand in neither J & K nor Himachal Pradesh. It needs it's own policies & a definite strategy  suiting it's typical state of affairs as obtaining in each district.No thumb rules can be applied here.

Another big joke is  that cabinet meetings are being held at those places that accrue into no advantage to  a common 'aam admi' of Uttarakhand. He/she wants 'Roti, Kapra, Makan,Social & Economic Empowerment,Good Road Communication,Good Education for Children,Medical facilities  & above all an Acceptable 'Good Quality of Life'.The latter encompasses all aspects of development & welfare. 

Who has thought of holistic strategic development of the Hill   State ? Presently the eighth Chief Minister is occupying the highly revolving chair.If rumours are to be believed, it is not too long when the Ninth Chief Minister shall occupy the revolving chair in about thirteen & a half years !

This change would continue with alarming regularity. I am told that an ex  Chief minister gets a permanent residence in Dehradun with amp; all perks & privileges. So make hey while the sun shines!

One does not believe in superstitions.But, it is widely talked about that the 'muhurta' of this Hill State at the time of its being carved out of Uttar Pradesh lacked the zing to move forward!

The disparity between the rich & poor, regional mind sets,  & socio- economic conditions have become so critical that it has started impacting the very psyche of a common man.After all who was benefited from the creation of this state ?

With Joint Family System having evaporated,the     culture ,traditions & customs are fast disappearing.There is wide uneasiness & unrest .Some people seem to be at war with themselves.Consumption of liquor/'nasha' of any kind / type amp; has taken the centre stage  on all events/happenings-whether  good, bad or amp; sad.

I was amazed to witness recently a ribbon cutting ceremony by the bridegroom while entering the place of marriage !

From the aforesaid ,you  shall be able to  get the answer of the downfall.

In-spite of the fact that the  border state has two hostile neighbours , the border belt remains totally neglected,so much so,that in some areas where Chinese Troops have brought vehicles on top of the passes, on our side, in some sectors, we do-not even have  roads up-to 30-35 Kms from the International Boundary.

The per capita income of hilly people is a mere pittance.The local populace being simple & tolerant accept their living conditions as their fate.But, how long will this 'tolerance factor' continue ?

There is total mismatch between ecology,environment & governance.

Forests  & Wildlife are the biggest targets of undesirable elements & mafias.There  are enough evidences of 'Babus' & departmental  collusion with these criminal elements.

People from hundreds of villages have migrated in search of greener pastures due to absence of even basic & rudimentary facilities.

In the land of Ganga & Jamuna,there is no water for people to drink!.These waters have not been harnessed to state's advantage. Leave behind other rivers & water bodies.Where is the 'Urja' gone from the 'Urja Pradesh' ?

The intentions of various governments that were operative in the past thirteen  & a half years have been clouded with mistrust & suspicion.Pitting one region against the other & giving encouragement to caste & creed based politics has literally ruined the state.

Economic disaster has been brought about by giving all sorts of Pensions ,doles & rations on subsidized rated -thus killing the basic instincts of people to work & compete.

There has been a policy paralysis.The 'Mahanuvavs' & 'Babus' are not a dedicated lot. They have looked after their interests pretty well all these years ignoring the condition & basic needs of a common man.

What is the basic idea of holding a cabinet meeting in a district HQ ? What shall be achieved by a tented cabinet at Gairsain? Hopefully,the proceedings do not become 'tainted' ! Do you need two Vidhan Sabhas in a small state like Uttarakhand  where every individual is reeling under thousands of rupees of central government's loan. As per this logic,UP should have at least ten Vidhan Sabha Bhawans ! Whom are you trying to help & benefit  by this course of action ? The whole action defies logic.

Local issues remain unanswered.Every district has its peculiar problems.These need to be addressed in Toto.

If things continue to move this way,what shall happen to Uttarakhand after ten years ? I shudder at this thought.As it is,the crime graph has increased over the years & uncertainty of law & order situation & has shot up multifold. 

The Sanskars have all but vanished.There are little morals left. There is little respect towards elders.

There are no people to till the land.

Only jackals,monkeys & wild boars have increased.Tigers & leopards get killed very often.

I do not feel safe any more.I might be killed in a police encounter !

But, this is my birthplace.I left all comforts to return to my land & people.

Above notwithstanding, I am NOT disillusioned. 

I try for reverse migration. Since charity begins at home, a couple of my close relatives have returned to their 'mati'.Hopefully, in coming years, this trend may catch up being sympathetic in nature.

My only worry is that should governance not improve & the state of affairs continue hither-to-fore,the Hill State may  enter the stage of 'STRATEGIC STALEMATE'! And we have our neighbours past masters in this art to instigate the frustrated lot of people especially targeting the youth!! This would be totally disastrous!

Let us not forget that 'Economy is Power'.

I am pained,aggrieved & disturbed alright but I am NOT DEFEATED !

I urge all sons of the soil to pay back their share to their respective' matis' & not forget those  people -who had taught them to walk & talk.

Mere seminars in big cities, metros & abroad would achieve NOTHING.

You cannot solve problems of Uttarakhand by a remote control.You got to be present physically.

You have to be serious & focused ;come here my brethren ,wherever you are in the world, & take the plunge.