Dehra Dun : Nepal prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, will be in the capital of Uttarakhand today, albeit for a short period of a few hours, in a bid to woo industrialists to set up their units in the tiny Himalayan country, because of its close proximity to the state, and also the fact that the city has a large number of migrant Nepali population, who have settled down here.
Bhattarai will be meeting industrialists and getting a feedback on them on setting up industries in Nepal, as the geographical conditions of the state are similar to those in Nepal. As a number of industrialists had come to Uttarakhand following the special package given to it by the earlier NDA government, there are various industrial pockets in the state where known houses have put up their units.
The occasion will also be utilized by the industrialists here to approach the Nepalese prime minister that they be given an opportunity to publicise and advertise their products in Nepal, which will open new markers for them. They felt that this would also lure them into opening their units in Nepal, as demand for their products pick up in the adjoining country, which in turn will create employment opportunities for the Nepalese youth.
However, it was reliably gathered that Bhattari will also be taking up the problems being faced by the large number of migrant Nepalese who have made various cities of Uttarakhand their home. A large number of these opeople are serving and ex-servicemen who served in the various units of the Gorkha Regiment, which earlier had its headquarters in Dehra Dun.
The migrant Nepalese population, which has been living in the cities of the state for generations, enjoyed the same priveleges as the local citizens, but ater Uttarakhand came into existence in Nov 2000, when new laws were enforced, like domicile certificate of the state for getting government jobs, they were facing problem getting such certificates.
Bhattarai and the delegation accompanying his is being hosted to lunch by the governor Margaret Alva, in the absence of chief minister B C Khanduri who is in Delhi attending the National Development Council meeting.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
