Dehradun, Nov. 10 -- Bhumesh Bharti.

Uttarakhand was created out of the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000 after years of sacrifice and persistent agitation. This new state was the collective dream of hundreds of thousands of hill dwellers and plains migrants seeking recognition, self-governance, and development. The journey toward statehood was shaped by demands for dignity, improved infrastructure, and preservation of regional identity. As Uttarakhand celebrates its Silver Jubilee, the picture of its journey has been complex, one of significant growth and infrastructural leaps but coupled with unfulfilled promises, governance challenges, environmental dilemmas, and social concerns. The mass migration from hill areas exp...