What I do not like about Uttarakhand?

Uttarakhand is a state with lovely scenery. It has mountains, hills, rivers, forests, snow, and the like. Natural beauty abounds here. Adventurous sports are a lot here. All websites will talk about what pleasant things people can see here. But these websites will deliberately not mention the unpleasant things that co-exist here. Travelers should know both. So here are the things that I do not like about uttarakhand.

1. The innumerable ups and downs of roads. The state is hilly but even in the valleys one will find so many ups and downs. At Canal road in dehradun, you will find even entry to buildings or houses are uphill and they lead directly from roads. This is dangerous and likely to lead to accident or traffic jams. 

2. The nature and character of people are not necessarily commensurate with the 'piousness' of the land. They are a bit reserved with non-smiling, seemingly unwelcoming faces. People help but the percentage who do so are lesser in percentage than what I see in other regions of India or world. They may be afraid to help or may have not been trained to complain against erring authorities. But that does not solve the problems and these only escalate. 

3. There is a significant amount of hooliganism here. As one person there rightly told me: The more religious a place, the more hooliganism will be present there. This holds true for uttarakhand too. 

4. Bus connectivity is the worst in the world. 

5. Most Uttarakhand bus drivers and conductors lack manners and do not know how to speak to women and people. 

6. Government management in state is bad.

7. State transport authorities do not know how to make money the right way. Same holds true for businessmen. Polite speech is most important for any business or in the corporate world. But this, I found lacking here. 

8. There are no metered taxis or auto rickshaws here. This leads to looting of tourists. Bikrams (large tri-wheelers) abound here but they are uncomfortable for all especially the aged people. The drivers wait a long time to 'fill' their vehicles before they start the journey. This leads to delays. Moreover, they overfill their vehicles. Instead of 7, they take 10 or 11 passengers. They have auto stands where they fight with other tourist cars who ferry people as well. 

9. Roads are in bad shape at most places.

10. Traffic police ignores important things such as overloaded bikrams, buses etc. 

11. Men address every women as 'Mata' or mother. This is insulting to many women since a significant percentage of women these days are blissfully single or do not want to have children. These girls want to stop people from using that term or mode of address. They have no right to use that term especially when they have not attended the 'naming ceremony' of the 'child' of the lady whom they are calling 'mata'. They cannot assume it. And in this era, it is not a liked term. They can address a woman as Sister, Aunt, or Madam. 

The surprising fact is that many also call young girls mata. It shows their mentality where women or girls are for them only an object of sex and reproduction. Nothing more than that. Pathetic!

12. Crime rate is not as low as reported. Many crimes go unreported. The hilly regions are not under police jurisdiction. They have the 'patwari' system and crimes there do not go into state crime records. I have seen innumerable cases of domestic violence against women on the roads. And people around tell the women to not report because her kids are small. They advise her to return back to her husband's home. Shame!

13. Drug addiction remains high in the state. Ganja is sold even around Haridwar and Rishikesh. I am sure authorities are aware of it but the wrongs continue.