National Mission on Himalayan Studies

Broad Thematic Area 2: Livelihood Options and Employment Generation

The IHR landscape is rich in terms of natural resources such as water, land and forest as well as home for about 61 million people. These natural resources are directly and indirectly source of livelihoods for its population. Unfortunately, in the recent times the region has become highly vulnerable due to geological reasons, stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources, marginalization, witness to several extreme/unusual events driven by climate variable. In addition, various other developmental activities, such as infrastructure and communication network, road construction, mining and hydropower projects are often devastating local environment and ecosystems, which have raised diverse issues and challenges for the well-being and progress in the landscape. The only option is to choose the alternative livelihoods options and employment generation.

In the view of the above, an important area of work for the NMHS is to reduce the pressure on the natural resources through the provision of alternative livelihoods and income generating options and seeks to upscaling tested eco-friendly economic activities, nature based tourism including eco-tourism, documentation of indigenous knowledge systems and new technology development, researching and training programs, workshop, capacity building on promoting bio-resource planning,. In this direction, the following 22 projects are ongoing under the NMHS, which aims to directly address increase income and socio-economic status of hill people.

IHR States Cover- 09 (J&K, UK, HP, AP, Sikkim, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya)

Overall Objective
•	Development/upscale of rural technologies i.e. Pen Aquaculture Technology, Beekeeping etc.
•	Explore different traditional knowledge and promote income generation practices and approaches;
•	Generation of alternative supplementary livelihood options for hill communities;
•	Empower local communities, particularly women and weaker section;
•	Providing training to local communities including youth for effective dissemination of traditional and developed technology;
•	Establish institutional networking mechanisms;
•	Sustainable tourism including eco-tourism.
•	Training and demonstration centre(s) for various stakeholders.
•	Documentation of environmental friendly traditional rural technology;
•	Increase socio-economic status of local peoples.

Ongoing Projects: (MG & SG- 22)
F Y 2015-16
1	Enhancing livelihood of Himalayan communities through action research and transforming wild produces into high value products.
2	A sustainable approach for livelihood improvement by integrated natural resource management in the central Himalaya.
F Y 2016-17
3	Innovative technologies for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation with alternate livelihood opportunities for mountain communities in North Western Himachal Himalayas.
FY 2017-18
4	Enhancement of the quality of livelihood opportunities and resilience for the people in the Indian Himalayas, through Design of Intervention strategies aimed at maximizing resource potential and minimizing Risks in urban-rural ecosystem.
5	Developing livelihood options and explore employment generation by creating sustainable ecotourism opportunities involving youth and women in the mountain ecosystem of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of India.
6	Development of natural resource based livelihood options and employment for small holder mountain farmers of Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas with special focus on women in the Dudhatol region catchment of origin of River Ramganga (West).
7	Promoting livelihoods by innovation in temperature horticulture crops in Garhwal and Kumaun regions of Uttarakhand.
8	Establishment of functional foods R&D centre and dissemination of the developed technology for the livelihood, nutritional security and entrepreneurship of the farm women of Himachal Pradesh.
9	Horticulture based eco-friendly development and promotion of women friendly entrepreneurship for livelihood improvement in rural area of Tripura.
10	Assessment, documentation and validation of sustainable traditional management practices with special emphasis on carbon sequestration and livelihood improvement in Eastern Himalaya.
11	Up-scaling of climate-friendly pen aquaculture technology for improved livelihoods, employment generation and enhanced income of wetland fishers of north-eastern India.
12	Entrepreneurship Development among tribal men & women through scientific beekeeping in district Rajouri (J&K).
13	Promotion of sustainable community based tourism in the Khangchendzonga Landscape: Linking livelihoods with nature conservation.
14	A value chain of Saffron in new areas of NW Himalayas by engaging youth and women for strengthening a Bio-based green economy.
15	Establishment of community fodder banks in forest fringe villages in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
16	Livelihood improvement and empowerment of rural poor through quality bulb production in cut flowers under temperate conditions of Kashmir Valley.
17	Impact of climate change on apple production and screening of climate resilient varieties in Kashmir valley.
18	Bioconversion of pine needles–A challenging waste of Himalayan forests to 2nd Generation Biofuel.
19	Promotion of village tourism in the outer periphery of Tehri Dam to ensure sustainable livelihood options to youths and women by protecting environmental and local cultural heritage.
20	Exploring wildlife and nature based tourism as a potential livelihood option for local people inhabiting in and around the protected areas in eastern Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh: A sustainable approach for biodiversity conservation.
21	Himalayan Bee Watch and Bee Museum: a platform for documentation, monitoring, and research and a window for sustainable development of forest villages of Darjeeling.
22	Livelihood improvement through quality corm production viz-a-viz promotion of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation in cold arid regions of Ladakh.

Measurable Targets up to 2020
•	Demonstration of eco-restoration models in selected IHR States
•	Adoption/adaptation of tested farming options/technologies for improved livelihood and rural employment;
•	Development of appropriate technologies for income generation
•	Creation of new eco-tourism opportunities in selected sites in the IHR.
•	Digitization of database on resource status, availability & use pattern for all sites;
•	Policy implications and impacts publication – Policy briefs, research papers, bulletins, report etc.
•	Capacity building (12 trainings one from each IHR States).

Monitoring Indicators
•	Periodic submission on region-specific best practices/ demonstrative models (No.);
•	No. of New Demonstrative Technology, new Micro-enterprise(s) developed and Skill Development Trainings;
•	No. of Stakeholders benefitted (No. of Rural Youth, No. of Women, and Total No. of Beneficiaries) with update on Income generation (Rs./ person);
•	No. of Capacity Building Programmes and No. of stakeholders benefitted;
•	No. of Policy draft(s) and other publications and knowledge products developed.

Deliverables
•	Development of 10 demonstration field models;
•	Establishment of 15 up-scale models for conservation and management of natural resources using tested technologies;
•	Development of 15 training manuals and field applicable manuals;
•	Organization of more than 100 trainings/workshops;
•	Development of knowledge products: Research papers - 40; Book chapters – 20; Monographs – 10; Action plan – 05; Report/dissemination materials – 15 etc.
•	Capacity building to > 1000 stakeholders

Achievements till date ...
•	01 new methodology on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP’s) for handling, harvesting and procurement of wild berry and nut.
•	01 Rehabilitation waste / abandoned land model by plantation of horticulture and multipurpose tree (2.5 ha).
•	62 house holds have enhanced their income (Rs. 25000/household/year) by adopting bio-briquetting technology model.
•	01 Training Manual on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP’s) published.
•	183 Households got benefitted by adopting 09 rural technological models.
•	14 Workshop/training programmes organized (164 persons benefited).
•	16 Wild products are identified in three district of Uttarakhand.
•	Knowledge products developed: 04 Research papers.

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