Uttarakhand’s Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, has given clear instructions to all District Magistrates to work closely with expatriates who are showing a huge interest in adopting villages back home.
She emphasized that there should be no restrictions on the areas where these expatriates want to contribute to their adopted villages. They should be given the freedom to choose projects based on their interests and expertise. The Chief Secretary stressed that the administration should be supportive and welcoming in their approach, ensuring a smooth and positive experience for the expatriates. She also highlighted the importance of taking these initiatives seriously and seeing them as a personal responsibility for the District Magistrates and their teams. The Chief Secretary instructed all districts to create a database of their expatriates and to involve village heads, local residents, and village development officers in the adoption program.
During a video conference with District Magistrates from across the state about the International Uttarakhand Expatriate Conference, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need for the administration to actively engage with the expatriates. She highlighted that their expertise, experience, and financial contributions can greatly benefit the overall development of Uttarakhand’s villages. Here are a couple of examples of expatriates who are taking part in this initiative:
- Shailesh Upreti from the US, who is adopting Manan village in Almora, wants to develop a model energy storage center there. He also plans to open his India corporate office in Almora.
- Nitu Adhikari, who lives in the UK and works in the tourism industry, is adopting Aqua Tok Janglia village in Nainital. She hopes to promote tourism in the state and plans to set up a kiwi farm and a yoga center in the village. She also intends to work on skill development in Saba wala, Dehradun.
