In the high-altitude villages near the Indian-Chinese border in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, families are facing a difficult divide. In villages such as Hasil, Mukba, Bagoli, Dalali, Suki, Purali, Jhala, and Jaspal, young women and children are leaving in growing numbers. Their migration is not driven by economic struggles or force, but rather by a desire for better education. Local schools, unable to meet the educational expectations of these families, have led women to relocate with their children to larger towns like Dehradun. Meanwhile, the men remain behind, continuing work in apple orchards and tourism.
Anupriya Rawat, who moved from a border village near Hasil to Dehradun, shared her perspective. “I never wanted to live away from my husband, but we had to make this sacrifice for our children’s future,” she explained. “Many women made the same decision for the sake of their children.”
At the core of this shift is the lack of adequate education. The eight villages in question have limited school options. There is only one secondary school across all of them, and many villages lack a primary school altogether. Bagoli, for example, has no primary school. In those villages that do have schools, there are often just two teachers handling all subjects across multiple grades. Locals say the schools fall short of basic educational standards. “The schools have serious problems—poor hygiene and a shortage of teachers,” said Asha Panwar, a resident of Dalali, who moved to Dehradun several years ago. Her husband still lives in the village, but she remains in the city with their two children, ages 16 and 11. “Almost all of our villages are empty now,” she said. “There are no young daughters-in-law or children attending school anymore.”
Despite the exodus, the families are not struggling financially. Many are doing well, with apple farming providing seasonal income, and the Char Dham pilgrimage route supporting local businesses. The men left behind continue to manage the land and homes, either alone or with older relatives.
“It’s certainly difficult to live apart from my wife and children, but we’re financially independent here,” said Madhvendra Rawat, a resident of Harsil. “One villager even hired a helicopter to take his father to a private hospital, which shows our prosperity. However, living without family does have its challenges, especially during medical emergencies and festivals.”
While officials admit that migration is happening, they argue that the schools in the villages are not the issue. “The quality of teachers, school infrastructure, and other facilities in government schools here are adequate,” said Harsha Rawat, education officer of Batwari district in Uttarakhand. “These are ‘vibrant villages’ with special funding for maintaining facilities. Families are leaving because they can afford better education in towns. The community needs to invest in their hometowns and not abandon them.”
A source from the education department recalled a visit by Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat to Batwari in October 2024. “He expressed concern about the closure of secondary schools in Harsil due to the mass migration of mothers and children,” the source said. “People must understand that migration is not the solution.”
For mothers who have packed their bags and moved their children to towns, these claims feel distant. The bells may still ring in the villages, but the classrooms remain empt.
