Facilitating development in the Himalayan States is one of the priorities of the Government of India. However, special efforts will be needed to mitigate migration from the border areas, in which Panchayati Raj institutions can play an important role.
The Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said this while speaking as the chief guest at the Conclave of the Himalayan States held in Mussoorie on Sunday.
The Mussoorie Resolution signed by the Himalayan States on the occasion saw them pledging to make endeavours to protect and conserve the rich Himalayan heritage and ethos for the prosperity and well-being of the nation; cherish and nurture the wealth of biodiversity- the glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and wildlife; preserve the vibrant folk arts and crafts, the culture and folklore to pass them on to coming generations. The Himalayan States also pledged to conserve for posterity the spiritual legacy of the mountain culture, to work out strategies for sustainable development of mountain areas with a sense of equality and justice, to cherish and conserve the history of mountain societies, their historical legends and the glory associated with the lofty Himalayas and to hand over this grant heritage in pristine form to the nation and the world.
Earlier, the Union Finance minister said that only by providing basic facilities can migration from border areas be mitigated. The people living in the border areas are the eyes and ears when it comes to national security.
Stressing on the need for balancing development and environmental protection, she said that special focus should be laid on organic farming in mountain States.
The local youth need to be linked with this. Start-ups can also be vital for youth in mountains, as these will not only mitigate migration but also boost economic development. Empowerment of local community should be accorded priority for achieving the intended aim of development schemes. The Centre will take serious cognisance of the issues discussed by the Himalayan States participating in this conclave, she added.
Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that hosting the conclave was an honour for Uttarakhand. He said, “The geographical conditions of Himalayan states are similar. These states have a vital role in the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save every drop of water.
All of us will have to work together for enrichment and conservation of water. Separate budgetary provision should be made at the Centre for river revival. The Himalayan States also need to be encouraged more for the eco-system services they provide. We will also have to work on wellness and tourism to achieve the economic development target by 2025,” said Rawat.
Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh said that the Centre is with the Himalayan states. The Finance Commission is fully aware of the problems faced by these states. The commission also agrees to the points raised in this conclave and all possible attempt within the constitutional framework will be made to resolve these isues, he said.
Stating that Himalayan States are important for global environment, he suggested that a system should be considered for improving the living standard in the Himalayan region.
Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur said that problems faced in mountainous states are different than those faced in other states. Stressing on development of air connectivity in such states, he cited limited resources to seek priority in financial assistance from the centre.NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said that there are various possibilities for development in Himalayan States. It is vital to attract foreigners to boost tourism in these states. He also spoke of the importance of value added agriculture, setting of targets and time-bound execution of various schemes.
The chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, advisor to the Sikkim CM, Mahendra P Lama, advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir governor, KK Sharma were also among those who expressed their views on the occasion.