Holistic Mountain Development Anita Paul

1. Holistic Mountain Development Anita Paul • IACD Practitioner Dialogue • DST- Pune • August 2012

2. The Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation is a non-profit organization working in the central and western Himalaya since 1992. The primary aim of Grassroots is to initiate peoples action at the grassroots for restoration of ecological security in languishing river basins through holistic mountain development programs, in order to improve the quality of life. Grassroots

3. The loss or lack of title to environmental assets is viewed as a component of poverty, leading to the conclusion that environmental conservation is actually a necessary fundamental to poverty alleviation. Also implied in the mandate of Grassroots and incorporated in its approach and methodology is promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit - the belief that people can determine their own destiny, establish goals, take risks and invest their time and energy to achieve their aspirations for a better life. Grassroots

4. Based on the vulnerability of communities, Grassroots is focusing on the following thematic areas: Grassroots

5. Grassroots

6. Over the past 20 years, in partnership with various civil society organisations and the government, the outreach programs of Grassroots has benefitted communities spread over 800 villages in 12 districts in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, India. Grassroots

7. Our Strategy • Programs • Renewable- energy • Sanitation • Water • Community Forestry • Farming Systems • Livelihoods • Climate Change Grassroots aims to initiate peoples action at the grassroots for restoration of ecological security in languishing river basins to improve the quality of life Holistic Mountain Development • Principles • Ecology • Economy • Equity • Strategies • Capacity Building • Empowerment • Cost sharing • Leadership • Partnerships Grassroots

8. Location Map of the Gagas Basin Total area of the basin 512 km2 Grassroots

9. Basic Data • Area 500 square kms • Altitude Between 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet • Villages 373 • Rural Population 100,000 • Urban Population 20,000 • Major Gadheras14 • No of Households 23,000 • Reserved Forests 20 percent of the basin Grassroots

10. 14 major gadheras/streams drain into the river Grassroots

11. 373 Villages spread over the Basin Grassroots

12. State of Reserved Forests Grassroots

13. Problems of Water Resources in a Typical Gadhera Grassroots

14. Support Area for Sustainable Farming • Typically, we need 7 hectares of forest areas to support 1 hectare of farming • In most river basins, like Gagas, the ratio is 1:1 • Which has led to food insecurity and impoverishment • And, migration to urban sweatshops Grassroots

15. Forests & Water Grassroots

16. Women are playing a key role to renew the hydrology in the river basin Grassroots

17. Kumaon Artisans Guild Grassroots experiences of promoting MDGs has led to the consolidation of artisans guilds which comprises of local youth trained as barefoot engineers in order to spread the benefits of appropriate technologies in cross cutting sectors like drinking water, environmental sanitation, renewable energy and rain water harvesting – with the idea of improving the quality of life for mountain communities here and now. These guilds have also led to the creation of significant sustainable employment opportunities. On an average, a skilled artisan would earn Rs. 75,000 per annum. Grassroots

18. Infiltration Wells in the Himalaya! Grassroots

19. Appropriate Technology for Community Managed Drinking Water Systems • 40 % of traditional water sources have dried-up • Spread to 350 villages, 54 blocks, 11 districts of Uttarakhand & Himachal Pradesh • Providing 2.4 million litres of safe drinking water to 17,600 households with close to 100,000 people Grassroots

20. Sanitation • 4,000 households • In Dusad, 100% households have installed sanitation units Grassroots

21. Rainwater Harvesting Roof runoff rainwater harvesting tanks supplement availability of domestic water – demonstrations in schools have led to 500 households adopting this AT application Grassroots

22. Renewable Energy Grassroots

23. Biogas Units • Biogas units provide four hours of clean cooking gas daily • Reduces the drudgery of head loading firewood • Reduces biotic pressure • Reduces health hazard of smoky open fires • Also ‘burns’ methane – one of the four obnoxious gases leading to global warming • 2,400 households have now access to clean energy for cooking through Bio-gas units Grassroots

24. Grassroots

25. Catchment Area Treatment As of now 9,50,000 saplings raised and planted-out in protected village commons Output of grasses have increased Equity & governance Grassroots

26. Village Nurseries raise Appropriate Rootstock of Native Species Grassroots

27. Planting Trees… Grassroots

28. Revival of a Tradition • Khals assisted the process of recharging the ground water till the alienation of communities from forests • Currently, communities are in dialogue with the government to revive this tradition, especially in the reserved forest areas Grassroots

29. Degraded commons – 10 years later with fresh vegetal cover Grassroots

30. Community Owned Enterprises Grassroots

31. It is realised that human development is about much more than rise or fall of national incomes. It is about quality of life, the level of human well-being and the access to basic social services. The pressures on environmental and natural resources and the repercussions of their degradation on low income livelihoods have become a source of increasing concern. Innovative micro-enterprises are necessary in order to address this situation. Forests Reduces the kinetic energy of rainfal Root systems of mixed forests enablrecharge of subterannean water capillaries, which mon cultures are unable to do Grassroots

32. Livelihoods & Microenterprises • To secure and consolidate a fresh balance in the quality of their lives, SHGs have been involved with creating a platform for establishment of pro poor business ventures with farming families as the primary stakeholders federated in the form of a Producers Company – Community Owned Social Enterprise. Grassroots

33. UMANG – Producers Company • Network of 1,500 women • Formed into 200 SHGs • In 100 villages • Savings of Rs. 50 lakhs plus • Supplementing incomes through various verticals, viz., fruit preserves/pickles unit, hand-knitted items, safe foods, backyard poultry, etcetera. Grassroots

34. Off-Farm Livelihoods Grassroots

35. Consolidating Organic Farming Systems Grassroots

36. Linking Markets for Traditional Crops Grassroots

37. Value Added Crops Grassroots

38. Free Range Poultry • Over 500 households with an average of 10 chicks of kroiler birds (350 grams + vaccinated) • Average earning per year = Rs. 5,000 • Plus the benefit of eggs at home • This business of Rs. 25 lacs per annum could be expanded 100 times, but we would need to organize marketing Constraints Setting up ‘mother farms’ Distribution of chicks Grassroots

39. UMANG - Members Income Chart Note: Income chart is combination of different verticals

40. UMANG – Sale Comparison Chart

41. Capacity Building – Grassroots Institutions! Grassroots

42. Grassroots Interface We would continue to act as an interface between communities and other stake holders for promoting sustainable mountain development Grassroots

43. Thank You for your Time! Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation Post Bag # 3, Ranikhet 263 645, Almora District, Uttarakhand, India apaul@grassrootsindia.com Grassroots