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 2

3. The loss or lack of title to environmental assets is viewed as a component of poverty, leading to the conclusionthatenvironmental 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. 3 Grassroots

4. 4 Based on the vulnerability of communities, Grassroots is focusing on the following thematic areas: Self Help Groups Producer Groups Guilds Vegetal Cover Hydrology Biodiversity Farming Systems Biogas Units Solar Lights Infiltration Wells Rainwater Harvesting Toilets Water & Sanitation Renewable Energy Livelihoods & Micro Enterprises Ecological Security

5. Grassroots 5

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 6

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

8. Grassroots Total area of the basin 512 km 2 Location Map of the Gagas Basin 8

9. Grassroots Basic Data Area 500 square kms AltitudeBetween 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet Villages373 Rural Population 100,000 Urban Population 20,000 Major Gadheras 14 No of Households 23,000 Reserved Forests 20 percent of the basin 9

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

11. Grassroots 373 Villages spread over the Basin 11

12. Grassroots State of Reserved Forests 12

13. Grassroots Problems of Water Resources in a Typical Gadhera 13

14. Grassroots 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 14

15. Grassroots Forests & Water 15

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

17. Grassroots 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. 17

18. Grassroots Infiltration Wells in the Himalaya! 18

19. Grassroots 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 19

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

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

22. Grassroots Renewable Energy 22

23. Grassroots 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 23

24. Grassroots 24 Consolidated Biogas & IW details from 1993-94 to 2011-12 S NoStateDistrictBlockVillagesIWsBiogas 1UttarakhandAlmora 11 276 290 582 Bageshwar 2 70 46 131 Champawat 2 3 6 - Nainital 7 111 43 469 Pithoragarh 4 40 7 72 Tehri 8 39 42 16 Chamoli 5 13 18 23 Pauri 10 20 17 Rudraprayag 2 16 25 - Dehradun 2 40 - 194 Sub-Total 10 53 628 497 1,504 2Himachal PradeshSirmaur 6 124 29 895 Shimla 1 1 1 - Solan 1 11 8 26 Sub-Total 3 8 136 38 921 Total 13 61 764 535 2,425

25. Grassroots 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 25

26. Grassroots Village Nurseries raise Appropriate Rootstock of Native Species 26

27. Grassroots Planting Trees… 27

28. Grassroots 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 28

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

30. Grassroots Community Owned Enterprises 30

31. Forest s Reduces the kinetic energy of rainfal Root systems of mixed forests enablrecharge of subterannean water capillaries, which mon cultures are unable to do 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. 31 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 32

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 33

34. Grassroots Off-Farm Livelihoods 34

35. Grassroots Consolidating Organic Farming Systems 35

36. Grassroots Linking Markets for Traditional Crops 36

37. Value Added Crops Grassroots 37

38. Grassroots 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 38

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

40. UMANG – Sale Comparison Chart

41. Grassroots Capacity Building – Grassroots Institutions! 41

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

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