Nepalese villagers of two border villages trek via India to reach their high altitude summer abodes
Nepalese villagers of two border villages trek via India to reach their high altitude summer abodes
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, April 26
The villagers of high altitude Nepalese villages of Tinkar and Changru reached Indian territory of Dharchula in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand today, to cross over from Indian territory to reach their villages in the Nepalese part of Vyans valley.
“The Nepalese administration had sought permission from Indian authorities for their villagers to cross over from Indian territory to reach their high altitude villagers for summer migration. It has been granted and Nepalese villagers have started moving towards Indian territory with their animals to reach their villages via India,” said Devesh Shashni, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Dharchula.
“I have given permission to over 800 applications of Nepalese citizen of Tinkar and Changru villages of Nepal, seeking permission to use Indian territory to reach their high altitude villages for summer migration,” said the SDM.
According to SDM, two Nepalese villages of Tinkar and Changru, situated in Nepalese part of Vyans valley, use Indian trek route traditionally for winter and summer migration due to non availability of safe trek inside their own country.”Though most of Nepalese villagers also use motor vehicles to reach their villages after crossing into Dharchula, the people with animals still take the traditional routes ,stopping at several camps to reach the respective villages,” said the SDM.
The Nepalese villagers will cross over to their villages from Sitapul at Garbiyang.”The villagers along with their loaded animals will reach Garbiyang in three days time,” said Shalu Datal, a social worker in Dharchula.
The seven Indian villages of Vyans will also start summer migration from next week to their high altitude villages.
According to sources over 200 families of two Nepalese villages seek permission every year for migration from Indian territory.
