Some Youngsters Come Back
Khaddi village - South-West Uttarakhand
Grinding rice ...
"People are reasonable well" tells us a 68 years old farmer in the hilly Koti village. He lived his whole life here and is happy to see some youngsters come back after several years in the city for study and work. They like the beauty of this area, and the freedom of the farmers' work. "The NREGA (hundred days work a year law) brought many back."
We met a just married couple. The groom is graduated and came back to work at the farm of his father. The bride is still studying in Rishikesh, a town not far from here.
... to make rice flour ...
There is a good road nowadays, so people can easily reach the town when necessary. There is electricity and even broad band
internet. Some social activists did a lot of work here. They informed the villagers about their rights and formed a saving group
(also called a Self Help Group) for financial help in difficult times and for micro credits. They also organised a lot of tree
planting.
There is not a big mining or dam project going on here, so there is no threat of displacement.
... to prepare special sweets.
Another farmer is more negative. He points to several difficulties. The quality of the forests is becoming worse by the bad policy
of the Forest Department. As a result there is less water in the dry months after the monsoon. A lot of springs have dried up. He agrees
some youngsters come back, but others don't.
It is clear some big problems are not yet solved, but you feel the optimism in this village,
high in the hills.
Extended family; at the right side the just married couple.
Peppers drying at the roof top.
Rice straw for the cattle.
Traditional way to produce butter and buttermilk.
Churn-staff.
Churn-jar.
Koti village, Narendra Nagar Block, Tehri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand.
Go to next page: Photo series new forest
Go to overview articles and photo series Uttarakhand SW2, Khaddi
