Our economy is tourism dependent… I don’t expect many visitors this year: Uttarakhand CM

The first of the key relaxations as a part of India’s three-phase ‘unlocking’ plan following Covid-19 lockdown got here into pressure on Monday. Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat spoke to Chetan Chauhan and Neeraj Santoshi concerning the plan, the pandemic, return of migrants, and revival of the economic system. Edited excerpts:

What steps have you ever taken to examine the Covid-19 unfold?

Uttarakhand reported its first case on March 15 when an IFS [Indian Forest Service] trainee officer returned from Spain and examined positive. We Immediately introduced faculty holidays and issued an order concerning do business from home in case of presidency staff. Even earlier than the [national] lockdown was introduced from March 25, we had imposed lockdown right here on March 23. We recognized all of the jamaatis [who attended a congregation in Delhi that led to a spike in Covid-19 cases in March] and their contacts, numbering over 1,400, and despatched them for quarantine and remedy. We intensified our vigil on borders and began sanitisation drives on Saturdays and Sundays.

How are you coping with the return of migrants, who might have been contaminated?

By May 15, we had been shifting in the direction of liberating the state from Covid, however then the circumstances once more spiked with the return of the migrants. We anticipated that circumstances will spike with migrants coming back from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. But it was necessary to convey these folks again, because the industries and the service sectors they had been working in had shut down. In the final two days, comparatively, the Covid-19 circumstances have come down.

What are your plans for the migrants who’ve returned?

As per our survey, the folks, who had returned, wished to return. Now, a lot of the returnees don’t wish to return. We have launched an internet portal HOPE by means of which expert folks of Uttarakhand working or residing in any a part of the nation can add particulars concerning their experience based mostly on which authorities and employers right here can take a call on the place and the way they are often employed within the state. I’ve been informed that round 6,000 folks have uploaded their particulars.

How does the state plan to revive its economic system because the nation unlocks?

Except in Dehradun, we’ve got opened all spiritual locations, motels, and eating places. We allowed industries to start out working even earlier than the unlock started. Farming had not stopped. We have began focussing extra on agriculture and the allied sectors. The demand for Himalayan merchandise will enhance, be it the immunity-boosting herbs, greens, fruits, honey, or ayurvedic merchandise.

How lengthy will it take to revive the economic system?

…we’ve got incurred a lack of over Rs 8,000 crore. Our economic system is primarily depending on tourism. And the way in which the state of affairs is rising, regardless of unlock, persons are nonetheless apprehensive. Our major tourism season is from April to June. During monsoons and after, vacationers hardly come right here. I don’t see many vacationers coming right here this 12 months.

Does Uttarakhand have any plans to advertise Ayurvedic and Himalayan merchandise?

The demand for herbs and medicinal crops has soared. Take the instance of herb Giloy, which was out there earlier for Rs 10 per kg. Now, it’s out there at Rs 50. Likewise, the demand for vegetables and fruit has elevated. Products like honey and golden trout, most of that are unseasonal, are in nice demand. We have particularly focussed on herbs. Under Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana, we’ve got recognized 150 employment avenues. People who go for this scheme will get subsidised loans to start out their very own ventures for producing Himalayan merchandise. We are focussing on hilly areas, the place we’ve got began rural development centres, the place native folks shall be facilitated to start out their very own ventures utilizing native sources with out harming the setting. So total, we shall be focussing on branding, grading and worth addition of our Himalayan merchandise. We are additionally growing a cluster method for growing and selling native Himalayan merchandise. So far, we’ve got recognized 10,000 clusters within the state associated to agriculture, horticulture, fragrant crops, fisheries, medicinal crops.

What are apprehensions associated to tourism and pilgrimage to Char Dham?

We have opened all spiritual locations aside from Char Dham and those in Dehradun because the monks are apprehensive. I’ve informed officers and public representatives to speak to them. We wish to begin Char Dham yatra in a restricted method… People are apprehensive about vacationers and we have to inform people who they should be taught to reside with the virus. We are engaged on this.