Trend in Rural-urban migration and its impact on Environment and Economy in Uttarkashi district

Abstract

This study examines the trend of Rural-urban migration to district headquarter and nearby places within the district, and its impact on the environment and economy in Uttarkashi district located in fragile ecological region of Himalaya. The migration rate is increasing, and resources
are limited which is causing the congestion in the city. The total migration to district headquarters and nearby places within district is 59.41 %. Opportunity for education and job is main issue for migration from rural to urban. Waste management is another issue causing the environmental harm in the district. Economy and per capita income is increased in an urban
area, but its implications are also on primary sector as agricultural share is decreasing in the total GSDP of state. Remittance is used as the primary source of income for villages which is sent by the migrant to their family. Providing alternative employment in form of clustered  tourism using potential mountain resource is strong solution for improving economy in hill villages which are located with adverse terrain. Nodal point available in district is few in no. if new nodal point is developed the rural people tends to shift there for their livelihood which will further connect them to their villages. New growth Centre developed by agriculture and tourism infrastructure will evenly distribute population and land use in other blocks and remote area. The reason for developing the new nodal point is to decongest the main town as the town is growing in a haphazard manner. Primary and secondary data with observation from field visit is used and detailed field-oriented input from two selected tehsil is also used for finding the trends. The study concludes that the high rate of rural-urban migration is leading to depopulation of rural villages which is causing the environmental implications both in receiving and sending areas