Inside India's ghost villages — where new life is returning

In India’s northern Uttarakhand state, climate change and economic pressures are driving mass migration from rural villages. More than 1,700 villages now stand abandoned as farming becomes unreliable. But a new wave of entrepreneurs is reversing this trend. By cultivating climate-resilient crops such as damask roses and hemp, and with support from government programs and private investors, residents are building sustainable businesses. These initiatives create jobs, revive traditional knowledge and offer new hope for rural communities — showing how innovation and nature-based solutions can help curb migration and strengthen livelihoods.