Dehradun, Dec. 20 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday directed officials to organise "Pravasi panchayats" across the state to connect with people from Uttarakhand who are working in other parts of the country and abroad, with the aim of promoting reverse migration. Chairing the 10th meeting of the Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission at the CM's residence, Dhami said migration has long remained a major challenge for the hill state. However, he added that the state government has taken several significant steps over the past four to five years to encourage people to return to their native villages. The CM instructed officials to ensure that migrants are informed in detail about various state government initiatives related to reverse migration and rural livelihoods. He also emphasised that suggestions from migrants should be actively sought and incorporated into policy planning. "People who have migrated from Uttarakhand possess valuable skills, experience and resources. By engaging with them through Pravasi panchayats, we can create better opportunities for their participation in the state's development and strengthen efforts towards reverse migration," the chief minister said. Highlighting government initiatives, he said several schemes have been implemented to expand livelihood opportunities in rural areas. Under these programmes, eligible beneficiaries are being provided subsidies on loans. Dhami also directed members of the Commission to visit other states to showcase the work being done by his government in the field of reverse migration. He asked them to study innovative practices adopted elsewhere to prevent migration and promote the return of people to rural and hill areas. To generate employment and strengthen the local economy, the CM said that 25 new locations across the state should be developed as wedding destinations on the lines of Triyuginarayan. He stressed that all basic facilities should be ensured at these locations to attract visitors and generate income for local communities. Dhami further emphasised the need to promote small-scale and cottage industries, particularly in hilly regions, to create sustainable livelihood options and reduce distress migration. Vice-chairman of the Commission, SS Negi, informed the officials in the meeting that a visible trend of reverse migration is now emerging in rural areas of the state. "So far, around 6,282 people have returned to their villages. These include migrants who were working in different parts of the country as well as those who have returned from abroad," Negi said. He added that most of the returnees are now engaged in tourism-related activities and small-scale industries and are moving towards self-reliance. The rural development and migration prevention commission was formed in August 2017 to examine all aspects of the migration problem, develop a vision for the development of rural areas, and submit recommendations to the government to curb migration. The commission submitted its first statewide report on migration in 2018. The report revealed that 700 villages in the state had been deserted, and over 383,000 people had left their villages in the 10 years prior to 2018, with half of them leaving in search of livelihood. Of nearly 16,500 villages in the state, 734 villages, mostly in hilly areas, had been depopulated. Permanent migration had significantly decreased between 2018 and 2022, while temporary migration had increased, an interim second statewide report released by the commission in March 2023, said....