The Historical Struggle for Uttarakhand Statehood
Uttarakhand commemorates a significant milestone today, celebrating 25 years since its formation on November 9, 2000. The journey to statehood, however, began much earlier, with roots tracing back to the colonial era. While demands for special rights for the region emerged as early as 1815 following the East India Company's annexation of Kumaon, the movement gained substantial momentum in 1938 when Jawaharlal Nehru endorsed the cause during the Congress's special session.
According to academic research by Emma Mawdsley, elite representatives from the hill regions argued for separation from the plains even before India's independence. Despite these appeals, Kumaon and British Garhwal were integrated into the newly formed Uttar Pradesh in 1947, with Tehri Garhwal following in 1949. Interestingly, three Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh who hailed from the Uttaranchal region – GB Pant, HN Bahuguna, and ND Tiwari – all opposed the creation of a separate hill state during their respective tenures.
The Turning Point and Political Mobilization
The formation of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal in July 1979 marked a crucial development in the statehood movement. Established by Bipin Chandra Tripathi, Indramani Badoni, Kashi Singh Airy, and Professor Devi Datt Pant, this political organization cultivated widespread support for a separate hill state among local residents.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1994 when then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced the implementation of 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes. This decision alarmed the predominantly upper-caste hill population, who feared an influx of 'outsiders' from the plains claiming jobs and educational opportunities. Kamla Pant, a leader of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, recalled the popular slogan that emerged: "Aarakshan ka ilaaj prithak rajya" (A separate state is the cure for reservation).
The movement witnessed tragedy in 1996 with the Rampur Tiraha case, where police opened fire on protesters, resulting in seven deaths and allegations of sexual abuse against women. This incident further galvanized the demand for statehood. Finally, on Independence Day 1996, Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda announced the formation of Uttaranchal, which was later renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
Uttarakhand's Development Journey: Achievements and Challenges
Twenty-five years since its formation, Uttarakhand has demonstrated significant progress across various development parameters when compared to its parent state, Uttar Pradesh.
Economic Indicators: Uttarakhand's per capita income in 2023-24 stood at Rs 2.6 lakh, substantially higher than Uttar Pradesh's Rs 93,514. The hill state's Gross Domestic Product at constant prices reached Rs 2 lakh crore for 2023-24, while Uttar Pradesh recorded Rs 14 lakh crore.
Human Development: Uttarakhand outperforms Uttar Pradesh in several social indicators. The sex ratio at birth in urban Uttarakhand is an impressive 1,094 females per 1,000 males, compared to 933 in urban Uttar Pradesh. Educational attainment shows notable differences, with 50.4% of women and 59.8% of men in Uttarakhand completing 10 or more years of schooling, against 39% of women and 48% of men in Uttar Pradesh.
Healthcare indicators also favor Uttarakhand, with an infant mortality rate of 39.1 per 1,000 live births compared to Uttar Pradesh's 50.4. The incidence of spousal violence is significantly lower in Uttarakhand at 15.1%, versus 34.8% in Uttar Pradesh.
Persistent Challenges: Despite these achievements, Uttarakhand faces substantial challenges in education and healthcare. The state has the second-highest number of schools with fewer than 20 enrollments (37.5%) nationally, trailing only Arunachal Pradesh. Currently, 7,073 schools have enrollments below 20 students, with 1,740 schools operating with just one teacher.
A Comptroller and Auditor General report (2016-2021) revealed stark disparities in healthcare infrastructure between plain and hilly districts. While plain districts face a 50% shortage of specialist doctors, hilly districts confront a severe 70% shortage against sanctioned posts.
The state also grapples with environmental challenges, including frequent natural disasters and extreme weather events. Since April 2025, multiple flood incidents in Dharali, Tharali, and Dehradun have resulted in at least 135 confirmed deaths with 86 people still missing.
As Uttarakhand reflects on its 25-year journey, the state continues to balance its developmental achievements with addressing persistent challenges in education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, while striving to fulfill the original vision of its statehood movement.
