[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Background of the Organization
The entire Himalayan zone is considered to be a frazile zone which is very sensitive to frequent earthquakes, erosions, floods and other natural calamities which not only adversely alters the living, environment, ecology and economy. In Uttarakhand, Garhwal Himalayas in particular, we faced a manmade tragedy of deforestation which led the women folk to come forward to protect its forest wealth which is now known as the “Chipko Movement”.
The much talked man made Asia’s largest “Tehri Dam” has posed many a problems before us, though there is debate among various environmentalists about its durability and longevity but definitely a number of villages have become marooned and a large number of people have been rehabilitated away from their original habitat.
Agriculture coupled with animal husbandry is the main stake of livelihood of hill people but the productivity so meagre that it cannot cope up round the year need of the family. Not much has been done to improve the per unit productivity of the area because of lack of means of irrigation, fertile soil and use of improved varieties of food crops.
Women drudgery is another problem as not only the entire agricultural operations are in the hands of women but also rearing cattle and children. Because there are no nearby enterprises that could provide jobs therefore, the youths have migrated to big towns/cities in search of livelihood. There are no women friendly tools available or if available, they are not accessible to women. Cow dung is the main input used in agriculture but for lack of proper knowledge, the same is used in half decomposed condition which lead to women drudgery.
After analyzing the ground realities of Himalayan region and with a aim to contribute something for the betterment of the area, Himalayan Institute For Environment, Ecology & Development (HIFEED) was conceived as a R&D based Civil Society Organization working for upliftment and sustainable development of mountain communities since 1995 without discrimination of race, caste, creed, sex, community and religion. The Organization is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 dated 24.05.1995 having its registered office and Head Quarter at Ranichauri in District Tehri Garhwal in the State of Uttarakhand.
The Organization is set up by a team of experienced and eminent social scientists and professionals with a view to tap various aspects of development and research to unfold the hidden bottlenecks of strategies and policies although the original thrust of the Organization is to focus different innovative research and development activities.
Working with the welfare of the community as well as to protect the environment and ecology of the area for more than two decades in the area, we thought to share our community based experience with other regions of the Country as a result now we have a presence in more than six States.
HIFEED is also shouldering new roles, strategizing its new and old programmes of people’s empowerment and also of their sensitization in changed contexts so as to maximize the gains in livelihood opportunities and minimize backlashes of this multipurpose project. We are here in Frazile Mountains, besieged with problems of out migration and poor economic growth and shocking downtrend in environmental elements of sustainability. Hence, we are here in the community with a vision, mission and objective of transformation for the betterment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”4037,4038,4039,4040,4041,4042,4043,4044,4045,4046,4047,4048,4049″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row]