Dehradun, Dec. 13 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said Uttarakhand recorded a 44% rise in reverse migration rates into the state as per a recent report, reflecting strengthened livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities in the hill districts. Citing the latest Migration Commission report, he said the state also recorded a 4.4% drop in unemployment rates, and secured first place in the country in NITI Aayog's SDG Index, showcasing gains across developmental indicators. Dhami was speaking at a public event at Letibunga Ground in Shashbani in Nainital district, where he inaugurated 17 development projects worth Rs.112.34 crore. SS Negi, vice chairman of the state Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission , said that the 44% figure referred to the post-Covid wave of returning migrants. The chief minister said migration from the hills can only be curbed by strengthening the rural economy, and initiatives such as "One District-Two Products", "House of the Himalayas", "State Millet Mission", Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grah Awas (Home Stay) scheme, and the "Wed in Uttarakhand" campaign have begun delivering encouraging results. "These schemes have opened new avenues of employment and self-employment," Dhami said....