Uttarakhand: Rehabilitation of Jadung Village

Jadung village in Uttarkashi district was abandoned after the 1962 Indo-China war that impacted relations between the countries and left border disputes unresolved. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has controlled the cold desert area similar to Ladakh since the residents deserted it.

Government Initiative

The Uttarakhand government has decided to rebuild and rehabilitate Jadung village as a major tourist destination in a first-of-its-kind initiative. The well-connected area has potential for tourism development.

Calling Back Descendants

As part of the initiative, the tourism department aims to invite back descendants of original homeowners now residing in nearby villages to revitalize Jadung village after decades of abandonment.

Promoting Homestays

In the first phase, the tourism department will renovate and refurbish six dilapidated houses into homestays using local designs and materials. The state will fund the development and hand over the houses to selected owners to run for at least 10 years without fees.

Training and Support

The tourism department plans to provide skill training programs to homestay operators periodically and assist them with marketing and promotion. The goal is to create self-employment opportunities and incentivize resettlement of the area.

Guidelines and Approvals

Homestay operators will be chosen through applications by descendants of the original inhabitants. Operational guidelines have been finalized and the initiative was approved by the Cabinet for timely roll out.

Expected Outcomes

The scheme aims to encourage reverse migration, rehabilitate villagers through sustainable tourism businesses, resolve border disputes, and develop a unique new Himalayan destination.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2024

Category: India Nation & States Current Affairs