Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a campaign to rehabilitate villages evacuated during the 1962 India-China war, with a focus on revitalizing them as major tourist destinations. Speaking at a public rally in Harsil, Uttarakhand, PM Modi highlighted the importance of remembering these villages’ history and ensuring their development.
“People might know that when China attacked India in 1962, these two villages of ours were evacuated. People have forgotten, but we cannot forget,” said PM Modi. He further stated that the government is working towards making these villages, located in the Uttarkashi district, a prominent part of India’s tourism map.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the development of border villages, calling them “our first villages” instead of the commonly perceived “last villages.” He noted that the government’s efforts, such as the ‘Vibrant Village’ program, aim to boost the development of these regions. “Our effort is that the border areas of Uttarakhand should also get special benefits of tourism,” Modi said, adding that 10 villages in the area have been included in this scheme.
In addition to the rehabilitation efforts, PM Modi also discussed the state’s ongoing development projects, including the Kedarnath and Hemkund Ropeway Projects, which are expected to significantly reduce travel time and make these pilgrimage sites more accessible to the elderly and children.
Earlier, PM Modi flagged off a trek and bike rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the winter residence of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa, accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Prime Minister’s visit also highlighted the state’s Winter Tourism program, designed to boost religious tourism and promote the local economy.
