A large number of Indians migrated to various Commonwealth Countries like South Africa, West Indies, Mauritus, Fizi etc. in the last decade of 19th and in the first decade of 20th century as indentured labours. Majority of them are immigrants from Uttar Pradesh, especially from eastern Uttar Pradesh. The descendants of these families have a deep attachment to Indian culture and tradition. Similarly a good number of Indians migrated to England, America and to some other European countries and obtained citizenship there.

They always cherish a desire to visit the motherland of their ancestors, acquaint themselves with their heritage and the present day living conditions of India They also crave to see those particular places where their forefathers lived before they migrated.

The Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA has embarked upon a novel scheme, aptly named as “Discover Your Roots” in which Department on receiving inquiries from NRI’s, and others whose ancestors had once lived/worked in Uttar Pradesh, will make every effort to locate their roots. About 10 million people of Indian origin live in Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and in other commonwealth countries to which their ancestors had migrated during 19th and 20th centuries. Majority of them are migrants from Uttar Pradesh especially eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Under the “ Discover your Roots “ scheme, the department will make efforts to locate their places of birth/origin through the old letters, school certificates, passports, land records, religious scriptures (Pothis), cultural heritage and through personal inquiries. The department will also provide all necessary facilities in India for their visit to such places where they would be accorded a warm traditional welcome. It would be a great event for them to meet old acquaintances or their descendents. The officers and employees of U.P. Tourism Corporation and U.P. State Archives are jointly scrutinising the records of State Archives. Till now informations about 10000 indenture labour of 51 districts have been compiled.

Ballia District was selected as Pilot Project by the Govt. Of India. An office for pilot project in Ballia was set up. Field supervisors were posted there. They visited village to Village and collected informations regarding the NRIs and interacted with the important Persons of village such as Lekhpal, Gram Pradhan, Old persons in this connection. The information about 56 residents of Distt.- Ballia who had left for Trinidad has been collected by the Department and their cast, religion, village and year of departure of ships have been traced. The revenue records pertaining to 56 persons of District Ballia who left as indentured labour (GIRMITIA) have also been scrutinized. With concerted efforts till date the roots of 17 persons have been finally traced. They are as follows:-

District - Ballia
 1- Shri Dev Saran Chaubey S/O Shri Raghu Chaubey
 2- Mrs. Sugia D/o Shri Tilak Singh
 3- Shri Ram Lakhan S/O Shri Dharman
 4- Shri Ram Briksh Hajam S/O Shri Ganga Hajam
 5- Shri Nagar Singh S/O Shri Jalim Singh
 6- Shri Sahdev S/O Shri Mahadev
 7- Shri Raj Kumar S/O Shri Nawal
 8- Shri Gaya S/O Shri Chhakauri
 9- Shri Nayab S/O Shri Ramai
10- Shri Sahab S/O Shri Ramai

Distrct - Azamgarh
 1- Shri Amir S/O Shri Noomu
 2- Shri Banwasi S/O Shri Bihari
 3- Smt. Laxmania D/O Shri Kali
 4- Shri Abhilakh S/O Shri Daswat

District - Jaunpur
 1- Shri Wali Mohd. S/O Shri Khuddun

District - Basti
 1- Shri Rameshwar S/O Shri Ghuran
 2- Shri Dhautal S/O Shri Chhoti

It is decided by the Department that, all the informations would be made available on the website. Hon'ble Minister of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh Sri Kawkab Hameed has also written to the different Indian Missions abroad to send the addresses of N.R.I. institutes/organisations, working in the field of tracing roots. The UPSTDC is making every effort to locate the Roots with the help of especially appointed discoverer In every district of Uttar Pradesh. It would be great event for NRI to meet old acquaintances of their Ancestors to see the remnants of the houses, where their forefathers or ancestors lived. UPSTDC is eager to call upon all such NRI's and Nationals interested in finding their roots in INDIA.

Department of Tourism has prepared a Registration Form, which is available here free of cost for such emigrants, who want to search whereabouts of their forefathers/ancestors.