National Mission on Himalayan Studies

Broad Thematic Area 4: Skill Development and Capacity Building

Significance of Skill Development and Capacity Building in the India Himalayan Region (IHR)

The Indian Himalayan Region is well known for the most fragile and complex ecosystem in the world. Majority of inhabitants of the region are engaged in agriculture and allied activities, about 70% of the total workers (85% women) are heavily involved, from which they are neither able to generate economic surplus nor to find off-farm employment opportunities. Therefore, attaining livelihood security and sustainable food production through efficient management of locally available natural resources and environmental protection have always been challenging in the IHR context. Due to limited opportunities of economic development in the IHR, particularly Himalayan rural youth are migrating and exploring other options of livelihood and employment generation in other parts of the country. Thus to minimize the existing rate of migration on one hand to utilize diverse bio resources sustainably on the other, capacity building and employment generation approach focusing more on diversifying land based livelihood generating alternative source income through application of various technology innervations are needed. In view of this, NMHS has granted 13 projects focused on human resource development through execution of action –oriented activities or development knowledge for various stakeholders of the IHR. The main objectives of this BTG are to strengthening and disseminating the appropriate rural technologies through skill enhancement for improving the awareness and capacity building of IHR people. The main identified Thematic Area of Work (TAW) of this BTG are (i) Options for education, awareness and outreach and (ii) Human capacity building including promotion of microenterprises and green technologies.

Overall Objectives

Develop theoretical and practical insights into the concepts of healthy and resilient ecosystems by monitoring relevant parameters of forests, cultivated land, ground water recharge, domestic animals and people (see attached module);.
Supplement rural livelihoods to reduce migration and monitor progress in conjunction with CBOs and village groups, especially women.
Operationalize Young Researchers´ Forum in the Indian Himalayas.
Develop compendium of best practices linking climate change to sustainable development.
Build awareness, communicate sectorial learnings and best practices, and build capacity of stakeholders to identify ways for upscaling across mountain states.
Advocate for adoption of mountain specific policies and developmental frameworks in the Government of India (GoI) and Indian Himalayan States.
Strengthen and build capacities of relevant institutions (ATIs, SIRDs, and SFTIs) in the area of sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem based disaster management, climate change adaptation and innovative and resilient alternate livelihood option.
Develop a framework for strengthening the operationalization and effective coordination of existing data centres in the project states of IHR for collection, management and exchange of comprehensive and user friendly data systems on climate change, disaster risk reduction preparedness and management, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, traditional systems and alternate/supplementary livelihood options.
Promote optimum utilization of wetland ecosystem services and its sustainable management and conservation through restoration of wetland ecosystem services by community involvement.
Skill up-gradation and capacity building of hill communities on low-cost bamboo preservation technologies.
Entrepreneurship development for hill communities through participatory management of livelihood-environment convergent models by establishing Bamboo Treatment Centres.
Disaster risk reduction and Socio-economic upliftment of hill communities.
Impact analysis and process documentation.
Enhance the income of 100 producers through farm based enterprises.
Build knowledge, Attitude and skills of 200 producers to manage farm based enterprises.
Build capacity of Lakshya Cooperative to operate and manage farm based enterprises.

NMHS Funded Projects: 14

FY 2025-26

Himalayan Urban Bio-Sheds (HUBS): Integrating People, Planning, Ecosystems for Healthy Hill Cities
Reassessment, Revival and Recognition of Bio-Resources, Handlooms, and Handicrafts of Indigenous Tribes of Manipur for Sustainable Livelihood

FY 2019-20

Waterfowl Ecological Monitoring and Conservation through Community Participation and Rural Livelihood in Shallabug Wetland Reserve, Kashmir (J&K)
Value addition of Fruits and Vegetables of Western Himalayas through Eco-friendly and Low-Cost Technologies

FY 2018-19

Improving capacity and strengthening wildlife conservation for sustainable livelihoods in Kashmir Himalaya.
Sustainable Natural Resources-based Livelihood and Capacity Building of Marginalized Stakeholders, particularly SC/ST Communities, and Women Empowerment in Uttarakhand.
Skill Development to sustain and enhance technical knowledge in Solar Energy & Rural Technologies Systems.

FY 2017-18

Conservation, Promotion and Intensification of Local crop landraces or germplasm for livelihoods of Organic Farmers in Sikkim.

FY 2016-17

Understanding Mountain Peoples´ approach and practices to combating Climate Change in the Indian Himalayan Region: Research to Renewal and Reforms.
Creating Communities of Practice and resilient village ecosystems in the mountain region of Uttarakhand.
Capacity Building Strategies for Managing Complex Disasters in the face of Climate Change.
Restoration of Ecosystem Services by Community Involvement in Rudrasagar Lake of Tripura.
Capacity building on bamboo treatment techniques for promotion of Earthquake Resilient Housings and Structures in Hill regions of Tripura.
Promotion of High Value-Low volume crops based enterprises in Higher Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

Measurable Targets up to 2020
•	Strengthening of delivery systems of appropriate Rural Technologies through skill enhancement.
•	Increased, improved and alternate livelihood options for 10000 farmers, particularly marginal and BPL ones and weaker sections.
•	9 more RTCs established at regional centres of GBPNIHESD and partners (09 states).
•	Adoption/adaptation of 120 tested options/technologies for improved livelihood.
•	Support to Integrated Eco development Research Program.
•	Land management practices for improved livelihoods.
•	Documenting and valuing traditional ecological knowledge and practices.
•	Database on IKS from IHR states on 4 thematic areas and exploring possibility of IPR value.
•	Strengthening and upscaling of 24 important traditional practices and knowledge from IHR states.
•	Continuation of extramural funding to different Institutions/Universities/NGOs for the support of at least 40 location-specific R&D activities.

Monitoring Indicators
•	YRFs organized (Nos.).
•	No. of policy briefs developed.
•	Awareness and Capacity Building events all across IHR States (Nos.).
•	Compendium developed on mountain-specific policies and practices (Nos.).
•	Assessment report/ Manuals prepared (Nos.).
•	Customized ToTs modules developed (Nos.).
•	Training of Trainers (ToTs) mode capacity building programs conducted (Nos./participants).
•	Coordination Framework for Data Centres on CC for states (Nos.).
•	Thematic Training Tools/Manual - DRR & P&M/ Guidebook prepared (Nos.).
•	Bamboo Houses Constructed and Demonstrated (Nos.).
•	Field models of micro-enterprises on Low-Cost Bamboo Preservation Technologies developed (No.).
•	Socioeconomic upliftment of Hill Communities (Rs/Capita).
•	No. of new farm based enterprises developed.
•	Income enhancement of villagers (Rs./Capita).
•	No of micro-entrepreneurs developed.
•	Skill building of women farmers (Nos.).
•	Skill enhancement of Lakshya Cooperative and business growth with marketing (Rs)

Deliverables
•	Periodic organization of Young Researchers' Forums for all 12 IHR states, followed by YRF Series Publication.
•	11 Policy Briefs covering gaps and recommendations for rectification (11 Newsletters).
•	A Compendium of IHR Best Practices linking Climate Change to Sustainable Development.
•	Awareness generated (student Nos.), villages/local bodies (Nos.), Officials (Nos.)
•	Community Risk Registers Developed (Nos.)
•	State-level, National-level, and International-level Conferences organized (Nos./participants).
•	Healthy and Resilient Ecosystem Development Plan for 15-20 villages
•	Intensive livelihood/ ecosystem restoration activities in 15-20 villages.
•	A Compendium on Supplementary Rural Livelihood Options along with Policy.
•	Recommendation to Check Outmigration and Women Drudgery in the Target Hill Region.
•	Develop community risk registers for 50 target villages and local bodies.
•	Customized ToTs modules as per the need of stakeholders for 4 states.
•	Trained government officers, Rural development functionaries, Range Officers, Foresters, Forest Guards, Van Panchayats, School teachers, Students, Public Representatives and officials of other line departments.
•	Framework for user friendly and comprehensive database for 4 states.
•	Thematic Training Tools/Manual - DRR & P&M/ Guidebook prepared (Nos.).
•	Action Plan for Conservation and utilization of ecosystem services of Lakes (with specific Objectives, Monitoring Indicators, and Measurable Outcomes).
•	Trainings on Skill Upgradation and Capacity Building of Hill Communities (500 target users on bamboo preservation techniques).
•	Setting up of 2 micro-enterprises in two project sites and establishment of "Bamboo Treatment Centres".
•	Entrepreneurship Development through Livelihood--Environment convergent models and DRR models in participatory manner.
•	6 Bamboo houses to be constructed and demonstrated and manual developed.

Achievements till date ...
•	Total 505 Skill development/Training Program organized and participated by 24989 beneficiaries on different issues like Water management, Management of NTFP, Low cost Bamboo treatment, Medicinal plant cultivation, Horticulture Skills, Mushroom Cultivation, Saffron Cultivation, Solar energy, Honey Bee Keeping’, Plant Taxonomy, GIS Mapping, etc.
•	Total 331 workshop and Awareness Program are organized with >12000 participants on-Spring Rejuvenation, Organic farming, Biodiversity Conservation, Disaster Bamboo Treatment Method, Restoration of ecosystem services, etc.
•	Conducted 17 trainings on fruit processing in 12 hamlets (participated by 300 local people) -Uttarakhand
•	More than 40 technologies were successfully demonstrated to village communities in Uttarakhand and HP
•	59 small micro-enterprises initiated - Wild edible produces, medicinal plant cultivation, cut flower/saffron farming, Organic farming, Eco-tourism, Low Cost Solar Water Heater, Apple cultivation, Bamboo treatment, Mushroom Cultivation, Women based milk dairy, orchid cultivation, Fish Pen culture, Bee Keeping, Pine Needles Biomass Gasification Based Electricity Generation, Fiber based products, etc. (Total >31,000 beneficiaries from 177 Villages)-09 IHR states
•	Developed earthquake resilient housing structure model by using treated bamboo in Tripura
•	Healthy and resilient ecosystem development plans developed for 6 village sites and also developed the indicators of a resilient village ecosystem at the individual and Community level in Uttarakhand
•	Total 196 farmers (15 Village) of High altitude area of Uttarakhand have cultivated the MPs in 12.84 Ha land (Net income Rs 34000-67000/ farmer)
•	Under Intensive livelihood/ ecosystem restoration activities following interventions has been done in Uttarakhand: Established Web of water tanks (322 Nos/10,000 litters each) for ensuring the water security of 12 villages Polyhouses construction for off seasons (43 no in 03 Village) Plantation of fodder, and fruit trees (~30000 no.) Established one (1) restaurant managed by women