Denied facilities, Lahaulites start migrating to Kullu areas

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 11

Feeling the pinch, residents of Lahaul Spiti are demanding basic amenities in the region to stop migration of people. Due to lack of better transportation facility, health service, education, communication and electricity in the region, the residents living in the district are migrating to other parts of the state to eke out a better life.

They are demanding that an airstrip be constructed in the region for defence purpose as well as for civic use, which will be of great help for them. Apart from this, they want better health, road infrastructure and tele-communication services in the region.

Significantly, Spiti’s border that begins from Samdo (74 km from Kaza) is close to the China border and the migration of people from the district may become a cause for concern in the near future if the state government continues to ignore the demand for better basic amenities in their area. Bishan Das Parshira, a resident of the district, said the people of this tribal district were feeling pinch of the lack of basic amenities. They were migrating towards the neighbouring district of Kullu and other parts of the state, which is a matter of concern.

“The roads leading to the district remain closed for months, which makes life of people miserable, especially in winters, when entire district remain draped in white mantle of snow”, he remarked.

Padma Dorje, a zila parishad member of Kaza, said the people of Spiti region were the worst affected and were facing the brunt of poor condition of roads, poor health and education facilities. Apart from this communication service is very weak.

The residents of Spiti region rue that there is no nearby market to sell their agriculture produce which can fetch good price. Due to lack of marketing facility in the region, they are being forced to transport their produce to Kullu and other distant markets. Peas is the main cash crop of people, which gets damaged due to poor road connectivity and lack of a market in close vicinity.

When asked, former Congress MLA of Lahaul-Spiti Ravi Thakur agreed saying, “Migration of people from the area is a big concern. During my tenure as an MLA I had raised the issue in Vidhan Sabha as well with the Centre for developing an airstrip in the region, which is a long-pending demand of people. They are demanding it for defense purpose as well as for promote tourism in the valley.”