KALIKOT: Villages in rural Kalikot have turned home only for senior citizens in the recent days. Youths are not generally seen in the villages here. A few who remain, are preparing to leave for India soon as they have no work in the villages during winter. Raj Bahadur Shahi, a 32-year-old from Pankha-8, said that he would set off for India soon to earn money for his living. Surya Bahadur Shahi, chairman, Youth Forum, Kalikot, said that the youths opted to go to India as labourers as there was in employment opportunity in the country. Shahi lamented that as the government had no employment opportunity to offer, the educated youths have abandoned the villages. Whenever any events were held in the villages, women children and senior citizens were the only audience, he said. "My daughter-in-law has to bear all family responsibilities as my only son has gone to India. My son has studied till SLC but now he has gone to India to work," lamented 61-year-old Ambika Balame of Mellamudi-4. The youths, who go to India come back around March-April and bring home some money and clothes for the family. Nainital, Uttarkashi, Gadawal, Simla, Himachal, and Mumbai in India are the favourite spots for Kalikot youths. As there are no industries in Kalikot, hundreds of youths have been forced to emigrate to India. The locals opined that the youths would not have suffered if there were opportunities in the country. Balaram Balame, a social worker, however, sought for organisations that would work for the youths. A lot of NGOs have been working for women and children but not youths, he added.