Livelihood challenges galore for calamity-hit U'khand people

With natural calamity ravaging thousands of crores worth tourism industry, sustainable livelihood seems to be emerging as a major challenge for Uttarakhand people.
Agriculture, fruit processing and cattle rearing could provide sustainable livelihood for the people, many of whom are heavily dependent on the tourism sector, say social workers.
Hundreds of people were dead and thousands are still missing in the wake of the devastating floods and landslide in June.
Among worst-affected places were Kedarnath and Badrinath, popular pilgrimage centres.
Raghubir Singh Kandwal, secretary of NGO Grass, said most people are looking for livelihood since the tourism sector, the primary revenue source for locals, has been badly hit.

Rajinder Singh Negi, who runs a hotel in Guptkashi, said the business has been hit after the calamity.

A recent report by industry body Assocham said that about 1,80,000 could be without employment in Uttarakhand tourism sector in the wake of the disaster.
According to Kandwal, fruit processing and making fruit juices apart from growing vegetables are among avenues that could provide livelihood for the locals.
"I want to get some job after completing my 12th class," said 17 year-old Nand Bahadur, who was rescued during the floods.
While he managed to survive, his brother and father, who was running an eatery in Kedarnath, are still missing.

Even as he grapples with personal grief, he is focused on completing his studies and find a job to look after his sister and mother.
Nand Bahadur's father was the lone bread winner for the family which is now facing difficult times.
His schoolmate Rahul Kumar, who also witnessed the natural calamity, is looking forward to apply for a job in the army.