The people of Painkhanda area in Joshimath block in the border area have been demanding that the block be declared backward for about 40 years now.
The report prepared by the district administration on this would be submitted to the State Other Backward Class Commission from where it would be forwarded to the State Government. Members of various castes, including the Brahmins and Thakurs of the Painkhanda, have been demanding backward status for four decades.
The residents have been stressing that the development block is socially, economically and educationally backward and suffering from lack of infrastructural facilities. The trade by people of Painkhanda with Tibet was stopped during the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict which had a detrimental effect on the local economy.
During this conflict, many of the locals gave away a considerable proportion of their lands to the army. The land acquisition for various hydro power projects in the region has made most people here landless.
Due to the backwardness of the area, the migration of people in search of employment has continued. Those depending on animal husbandry and farming are also facing hardships due to the decreased fertility of the soil and problems faced in securing adequate fodder for domesticated animals.
About three per cent of the people here are dependent on business during the Char Dham Yatra season. Such people run eateries and undertake sundry works to earn money during the four month long yatra season and survive on these earnings for the rest of the year. In absence of any industrial enterprise in the area the avenues for employment are also comparatively less.
It is estimated that the average annual income of the people of Painkhanda is less than Rs11,000. A 48-page report on the demand for backward area status has been submitted by the sub divisional magistrate to the district magistrate.
Advocate RC Sati states that the DM will submit the report to the Uttarakhand OBC Commission which will organise a public hearing before submitting its report to the State Government on the issue. After approval from the State cabinet, the report will be sent to the National Commission for Backward Classes.