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DEHRADUN: According to the latest Human Development Report (HRD) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the unemployment rate in Uttarakhand has doubled from 2.1% in 2004-05 to 4.2% in 2017.

Data of the district-wise unemployment rate for the educated youth (secondary level and above) reveals even more disturbing trends as Dehradun (30.2%) and Haridwar (20.1%) districts report the maximum rates of unemployment. Experts feel that the reason behind the high unemployment rate is the state's inability to generate sufficient job opportunities in private sectors. The report also shows that from 2004-05 to 2017, the unemployment rate among youngsters (15-29 years) went up from 6% to 13.2%. It also revealed that the unemployment rate is much higher (17.4%) among educated youngsters (above secondary level).

Talking about the report, Sachin Thapliyal, state head of the 'Uttarakhand unemployment forum', said, "We have over nine lakh registered unemployed youth in Uttarakhand so this data does not come as a surprise. We are facing the crisis as governments have failed to bring big industries and provide job opportunities to residents."

As many as 56,873 households (33,989 from rural and 22,884 from urban areas) were listed for the survey. A total of 8,845 sample households were selected (6,828 from rural and 2,017 from urban areas) for the detailed interviews.

As per the report, the unemployment rate for educated youth (secondary level and above) is relatively high in districts such as Pauri Garhwal (22.9%), Tehri Garhwal (20.9%) which have also seen a spurt in migration from villages.

Interestingly, unemployment rate is much lower in the Kumaon districts - Nainital (11.9%), Almora (11.6%), Bageshwar (11.3%), Champawat (18.6%) and Pithoragarh (10.6%).

Unemployment rate in other Garhwal districts meanwhile were - Chamoli (18.2%), Rudraprayag (9%) and Uttarkashi (2.1 %)

The report added that more than half the respondents (56%) said that there had been no increase in employment. Also 2/3 of the population of respondents (60%) stated that there were no employment opportunities for the educated. The report further revealed that Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts (50%) had a high proportion of unemployed youth who said that there are no employment opportunities for them.

Explaining the main reason behind the alarming trend, the report further observes that high unemployment and underemployment exists due to the absence of employment alternatives other than farming, which is fragmented with low productivity.

Speaking about the rising unemployment in the state, Raj Laxmi Datta, assistant professor of economics at DBS PG College, Dehradun, said, "The higher percentage of unemployment in Dehradun and Haridwar is mainly because people from Garhwal, Tehri and Uttarkashi have been migrating here in search of livelihood for decades. These two districts are prominent centres of migration within the state before the people move out of the state in search of jobs."

