More than 5 lakh people have been migrated from Uttarakhand in the past decade as per the RTI statistics. Around 734 villages have been termed as ghost villages of the state as people are migrating to cities for better livelihood, employment opportunities, medical facilities, and education. Badri Foundation is dedicated to developing the spirit of entrepreneurship amount people by skill Development for the people so that they earn their livelihood at their own place and become employment providers from employment seekers. This way, people will get a better livelihood and employment options in their home town in Uttarakhand. BADRI Foundation's objective is to fight the acute problem of migration. For this, we need your helping hand so that we can eradicate the menace of this critical problem.
A study reveals that in three districts – Pauri, Tehri, and Almora, more than 10% of the population has migrated to other places after 2011. Similarly, more than 10% of villages of the same districts have seen an exodus. This study further shows that migration is mainly internal – from the mountainous districts to urban centers, within the districts, or within the state. About 734 villages are depopulated, and in 367 villages, the population has decreased by more than 50%. Unemployment is the major problem in rural areas as more than 50% of out-migration occurred for reasons of employment.
Apart from this, most of the economic opportunities are to be found concentrated in plain areas of the State, leading to huge income inequalities across the hill and plain districts of the State. Per capita income (measured in terms of per capita net District Domestic Product) in Pauri, Bageshwar, Champawat, Tehri Garhwal, and Almora districts is almost half of that in Dehradun and Haridwar. Due to this lopsided development, the pace of out-migration from the hill districts of the state could not be slowed down after the state's formation. Historically, these districts had well-developed social indicators in comparison to many other districts of the State, but due to continuous migration, not only social indicators but even cultural and social heritage of this land called ‘ Dev Bhoomi’ is being affected adversely.
To protect the rich social and cultural heritage of the state it is important to encourage people to reverse migration. At ‘BADRI Foundation’ it is our aim to support and facilitate better healthcare and educational facilities as well as to generate employment opportunities and develop a spirit of entrepreneurship in ‘Pahadi’ people with the help of our various awareness, training, and welfare programs.