Mamta Kalia

everywhere has been extremely slow in
Uttarakhand and it is the more
enterprising communities from outside
which have derived the benefit of the
new economic opportunities in
Uttarakhand. Fruits, vegetables, milk, new
agricultural crops, animal husbandry,
the funds allotted under every
development scheme have not been
properly used but, on the other hand,
misused for this very reason. The state
is also responsible for not facilitating
basic changes in the old mentality in
accordance with the needs of
development. The education provided
in the new universities, schools and
colleges, which have been established
in large numbers, is also of the same
pattern as had been used to produce
officers, clerks and peons for the colonial
administration. It still does not produce
technicians, engineers and scientists
whom Uttarakhand needs in the new
situation. The newly rich are constantly
exerting pressure to open new
educational institutions but that the
education imparted in them should help
in developing capabilities for
participation in development activities
has not been insisted upon by any
enlightened section of the population.
The newly rich are more desirous of
acquiring degrees as “status symbols”.
They also aspire for the position occupied
by the old high caste aristocracy. They
have still not acquired the will and
courage to take up the role of a vanguard
in the economic building and
46 :: April-June 2010
development of Uttarakhand. That is why
there is no indication yet of any intention
on their part to give a new direction
to education.
The same is the state of the women’s
and adult education, that is education
for those who have never been to any
school, college or university but are
keen to learn any thing for technical
development of their vocations. Facilities
for such adult education in Uttarakhand
are limited.
If we look at Uttarakhand in terms
of its resource endowment, both physical
and human, we will find that it is richly
endowed in all such resources as can
form the basis of an indigenous economic
reconstruction. On one side, it has land,
forests, water, livestock, minerals and
other physical riches, on the other it
also has skillful and expert farmers,
artisans, craftsmen and traders who, if
given the benefit of modern technical
training and knowledge can both initiate
the process of economic regeneration
as well as develop the capability to spur
progress in agriculture, industry and
commerce. If they are provided with
capital and with scientific and other
necessary knowledge for building up
human resources and, together with
these, through collective organization
and decentralization of power, enabled
to share power to be able to take decisions
independently regarding economic
development of their region, then it would
be possible to have a new experiment
in economic upliftment of Uttarakhand