Baseline Study Report on Uttarakhand

REPORT
ON
BASELINE STUDY IN UTTARAKHAND
SEPTEMBER 2015
The Hans Foundation

C-301, 3rd Floor, Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon,
New Delhi- 110049 | Tel: 011-49524545 |
info@thfmail.com| thehansfoundation.org
Completed By :
(Innovative Solutions based on Conviction)
LIVELIHOOD SOLUTIONS
10-A, Pocket - 4, EHS-DDA Flats (Mixed Housing)
Behind New Condli, Mayur Vihar Phase-III
Delhi-110096
Phone/Fax +91-11-43070984 Mobile Phone: +91 9891874414
Email: info@livelihoodsolutions.org; Website: www.livelihoodsolutions.org
CONTENT
ABBREVIATION ..7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..8
1. BACKGROUND AND APPROACH...14
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.3.1.
Context14
Objective of the Study....15
Scope of the Study.15
Sectors and Sub-sectors Analysis;
.15
1.3.2. Action Planning...16
1.4. Approach and Methodology17
1.4.1. Approach.17
1.4.2. Methodology..18
2. OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS.22
2.1. Study Population.22
2.2. School
Education..23
2.2.1. Enrollment...23
2.2.2. Attendance..25
2.2.3. Dropout Rate.26
2.2.4. IT Enabled Education...27
2.2.5. Water and Sanitation Facilities..28
2.2.6. Mid Day Meal...29
2.3.
COMMUNITY HEALTH..31
2.3.1. Infant Mortality Rate & Maternal Mortality Ratio..31

2.3.2. Distance to Health Care Facilities...33
2.3.3. Household Facilities..34
2.4.
AGRICULTURE36
2.4.1. Cultivated Area.36

2.4.2. Land and Water36
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2.4.3.
2.4.4.
2.4.5.
2.4.6.
2.4.7.
2.4.8.
Crop Yield.37
Crop Rotations .40
Alternative Farming Practices...41
Chemical Fertilizer.42
Plant Protection43
Farm
Mechanization..44
2.4.9. Marketing.44
2.4.10. Processing......44
2.4.11. Income...44
2.5.
LIVESTOCK45
2.5.1.
2.5.2.
2.5.3.
2.5.4.
2.5.5.
2.5.6.
2.5.7.
2.5.8.
Livestock Pattern45
Milk Production...46
Fodder and Feed..48
Breed Improvement..50
Shelter....51
Health Care..51
Poultry.51
Fishery.52
2.6.
FOREST...53
2.6.1.
2.6.2.
2.6.3.
2.6.4.
Forest Degradation...53
Impact of Forest Degradation on Livelihoods.54
Initiatives for Forest Regeneration.54
Potential Forest Based Livelihood...54
2.7.
ENVIRONMENT.55
2.7.1.
2.7.2.
2.7.3.
2.7.4.
2.7.5.
Environmental Issues...55
Dealing with Environmental Issues.56
Climate Change and Carbon Trading.56
Uttarakhand State Action Plan for Climate Change:..57
Carbon Credit.59
2.8.
LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES60
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2.8.1. Livelihood Focus..60

2.8.2. Major Challenges60
2.8.3. Potential Micro-enterprises61
3. MAJOR GAPS AND KEY INTERVENTIONS.63
3.1. School Education.63
3.1.1. Major Gaps in Education63
3.1.2. Key Suggestions for Intervention.64
3.2. Community Health.65
3.2.1. Major Gaps in Community Health65
3.3. Agriculture66
3.3.1. Major Gaps in Agriculture.66
3.3.2. Key Suggestions for Intervention....68
3.4. Livestock ..70
3.4.1. Major Gaps in Livestock.70
3.5. Forest..73
3.5.1. Major Gaps in Forest.73
3.5.2. Key Suggestions for Interventions..74
3.6. Environment74
3.6.1. Major Gaps in Environmental Issues.74
3.7. Livelihood Strategies.75
3.7.1. Major Gaps in Livelihoods 75
4. PROJECT AREA AND TARGET COMMUNITY79
4.1.
4.2.
4.3.
4.4.
Methodology..82
Thematic Interventions and Target Community83
Project Area, Interventions and Target Community83
Blocks Identification..84
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5. PROPOSED ACTION PLAN87

5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
5.4.
5.5.
5.6.
Vision87
Geography and Interventions 87
Clear Strategies 87
Working with Partners.88
Planning for Implementation..89
Implementation Strategies..89
Content of Tables
1. Study Sample..20
2. Social Category .22
3. Enrollment in Schools ..23
4. Attendance in Schools .26
5. Dropout in Schools .27
6. Drinking Water Facility ...28
7. Toilets in Schools .29
8. Mid-day Meal 30
9. Mortality Rate 31
10. Distance Covered 34
11. Health Care Facilities 35
12. Area under Cultivation 36
13. Land & Water 37
14. Yield of Major Monsoon Crops .38
15. Yield of Major Winter Crops 39
16. Yield of Major Summer Crops 40
17. Organic Cultivation and Off-season Cultivation.42
18. Urea Application Rate 43
19. DAP Application Rate 43
20. Livestock Pattern .46
21. Milk Yield46
22. Milk Collection per Village.47
23. Contribution to Milk Production by Different Animals.47
24. Percent of milk Marketing ..48
25. Milk Selling Price..48
26. Open Grazing and Fodder deficiency.49
27. Distance to Access to Health Care Services51
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28. Poultry.52
29. Forest Management..54
30. Priority Area Selection Indicators.80
31. Ranking for Prioritization of the Districts81
32. Project Area, Interventions and Target Community83
33. Priority Blocks Selection Indicators.84
34. Ranking for Prioritization of Blocks.85
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ABBREVIATIONS
BAIF
BPL
CBOs
CHC
DAP
DPR
FCI
FGD
FYM
IMR
IT
ITC
JFM
JSSY
JSY
MDM
MGNREGS
MMR
NGOs
NRHM
NRLM
NTFP
OBC
PDS
PHC
PIT
PTM
RIST
SHGs
SMCs
SRLM
THF
TOR
TSC
UOCB
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: Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation

: Below Poverty Line
: Community Based Organizations
: Community Health Center
: Di-Ammonium Phosphate
: Detailed Project Report
: Food Corporation of India
: Focus Group Discussion
: Farm Yard Manure
: Infant Mortality Rate
: Information Technology
: Information Technology Communication
: Joint Forest Management
: Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojna
: Janani Suraksha Yojna
: Mid Day Meal
: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
: Maternal Mortality Ratio
: Non-Government Organizations
: National Rural Health Mission
: National Rural Livelihoods Mission
: Non-timber Forest Produces
: Other Backward Community
: Public Distribution System
: Primary Health Center
: Project Implementation Team
: Parents Teachers Meet
: Rural India Support Trust
: Self-Help Groups
: School Management Committees
: State Rural Livelihood Mission
: The Hans Foundation
: Terms of Reference
: Total Sanitation Campaign
: Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Hans Foundation/ Rural India Support Trust plans for a holistic & realistic perspective along
with clear approach & strategies to be executed with a view to achieve a goal of improving the
quality of life of the low-income communities of the entire state of Uttarakhand focusing on
disease prevention, children's education and forest regeneration under its vision 2020. A
baseline study was conducted to identify critical gaps in the key areas related to community
health, school education, agriculture, livestock, forest & environment and alternate livelihood
strategies with a view to facilitate the organization in prioritizing interventions, locations, target
communities along with other stakeholders. In addition to collection of secondary data, primary
information was gathered from around 525 farmers adopting focus discussion approach
covering 8 villages (4 Villages/Block) each in high, mid and foot hills with an equal share of
Kumayun and Garhwal regions along with an interaction process with the respondents from
NGOs, Aid Agencies, Government Departments, Autonomous Organizations, etc.
The population covered under study included 59% families from general, 21.2% from SC/ST and
19.8% from OBC categories of which 6.7% were landless. According to the findings under school
education in the study area, almost all the children are enrolled in government or private
schools as against the state average of 95.6%. However, the enrollment in government schools
is very low. According to the respondents across the study area, around 15-20% of the schools
have less than 10 students whereas nearly 15-30% schools have 10-20 students only. The
remaining schools have around 35-55 children per school. In most of the cases priority of the
parents remains to send their children to private schools if available, accessible and affordable.
Even the teachers in Government schools prefer to educate their children in private schools
preferably in cities. In many cases the teachers from rural areas have shifted their bases to
cities for educating their kids. The children enrolled in Government schools are primarily from
poor category who are unable to afford the cost of private schools and/or they have no other
option to go.
The state policies, quality of education, school environment for teaching & learning,
compatibility of teaching methodology to the market demand are some of the factors for
disinterest of parents to send their children to Government schools. According to the teachers
and block level officials of education department teacher students ratio is 1:40 in most of the
primary schools having 5 classes from 1st to 5th standard. They feel that the number of teachers
should be 6 including 1 headmaster and 1 teacher each for 5 classes even if the number of
students is 40 in the school. There is only 1 teacher in around 15% of the schools especially in
rural areas and around 60% of the schools have 1-2 teachers only on 1-6 students. Most of the
time teachers are involved in all kind of census work and hence the schools with single teacher
remain closed during this period. According to the Government norms the children are
admitted to school at the age 5 years in class-1 whereas the private schools admit at the age of
3 in Nursery class. Though, anganwadi run pre-schooling at the age of 3 but the parents prefer
to send to nursery classes in private schools. Therefore, most of the parents do not wait for
government schools and admit their kids to private schools.
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Average dropout rate is 9.1% at basic senior and 19% at intermediate levels which is higher as
against the state average of 3.98 and 4.61% respectively. Average dropout rate for girls is 12.2%
and 24.6% at basic senior and intermediate level which is higher than overall dropout rate.
According to the frequency of responses of the parents and children, around 24% of the
reasons for dropout rate of the children at basic senior and intermediate levels are related to
engagement in livelihood activities due to poverty, which is followed by access to employment
(14%), disinterest in further studies (12%), long distance of schools (8%) and continued failure
more than 2 terms (8%). Other reasons cited for dropout rate include passing through forest
areas, lack of awareness of parents, lack of proper guidance, etc. Similarly major reasons for
dropout of girls at basic senior and intermediate levels include early marriage of girls (28%),
poverty (18%), responsibility to support parents in all kind of tasks (13%), continued failure &
disinterest in further studies (11%), parents' discrimination towards girls' education (10%) along
with long and unsecured road to schools (8%). Other reasons include access to employment
opportunities, involved in household chores, etc.
The teaching inputs with regard to Information Technology (IT) enabled education are
extremely basic in absence of professional teachers and curriculum designed by the
Government limiting aspirations of the children to learn more. Further dysfunctional computer
systems in around 30-40% of the schools limit the access of the children. The students primarily
access to the private coaching centers to enhance their skills. The toilet facilities are available in
63% of the schools in the study area which are being used varying from 38% to 90% schools.
Cleanliness is one of the major reasons (61%) for not using the toilets in schools as shared by
village community and the school going children which is followed by lack of water availability
(24%). Other reasons cited by the respondents included toilets without doors, toilet under lock
& key by the school teachers, poor maintenance, etc. The facility of mid-day-meal is available in
100% schools implemented through education department at local level under the supervision
of District Mazistrate. The cost provision of MDM is Rs. 4.01/ in primary schools and Rs. 5.50/ in
junior schools. According to the community participants, quality of mid day meal has improved
over a period of time due to strict monitoring. On an average 81.7% of the responses indicate
good quality of the meal whereas around 15% of them say satisfactory.
Infant Mortality Rate of 45 and 40/1000 in Chamba and Bhatwadi blocks in mid and high hills is
higher than the state average of 32 due to lack of awareness, premature delivery, infection,
malnutrition, inability to access to health care centers due to poverty, discrimination of girl
child in family, etc. Excessive physical work by women during pregnancy, malnutrition,
infection, low hemoglobin, natural accidents on hilly tracks, inability to access to the hospitals,
taking services of untrained mid-wives for delivery facilitation, premature delivery, early
marriage, inadequate support of ANM and Asha workers, ignorance about health care, lack of
awareness, problem of anemia, high blood pressure, discrimination with women after giving
birth to girl child, lack of balance diet due to poverty are the main reasons responsible for high
MMR. The distance is a major factor in the state to access to various services including health.
The villagers in the studied area have to travel from 3 to 15 Km to access the hospitals and/or
dispensaries in high hills whereas the facilities are available within a range of 20 km in mid and
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foot hills. Around 50-85% families lack toilet facilities whereas 75-90% families lack access to
cooking gas. Nearly 85-93% families also lack access to the facility of smokeless chulla.
The land holding is less than 0.5 ha across the study area. An average land covered under
irrigation in the study villages is nearly 21% with regional figures of 47%, 11% and 5% in foot,
high and mid hills respectively. There is no source of water for irrigation in 59% of the villages
covered under study following rainfed farming. The concept of micro-irrigation has not reached
as yet in the villages across the study area and hence less than 1% of the farmers in the
Bheemtal block access to the facility. Around 30% of the cultivated area is affected by severity
of soil erosion in high hills which is followed by 29% in mid hills and 16% in foot hills.
Major crops grown during monsoon (Kharif) season include paddy, soybean, maize, ginger and
madua whereas major crops grown during winter season (Rabi) are wheat, barley, peas and
lentil. Beans, potato, peas, cauliflower and capsicum are the main crops grown during summer
season. Average yield of major crops in the study area is low by 30-50% as compared to the
state average. According to analysis of the farmers' responses, lack of irrigation is one of the
major factors responsible for low agricultural productivity (22%) which is followed by damage
of crops by wild animals including bear, monkey, rabbits and others (18%), unfertile cultivable
land (16%), access to quality seeds (10%), natural calamities including rainfall and snowfall (9%),
lack of information & technology with regard to production enhancement and marketing (8%),
small & fragmented land holding pattern (5) and low interest in agriculture due to low return
(4%). In addition, the other factors responsible for low agricultural productivity and production
are related to inadequate application of chemical fertilizer, lack of seed replacement, insect &
pest attack, reduced quantity of farm yard manure (FYM), crop marketing, etc.
The coverage of 3.2% area under organic farming is quite low even after Uttarakhand was
declared as "green organic". Protected cultivation adopting the technology of poly/green
houses is insignificant in the study villages. The fertilizer consumption in the study area is
insignificant under un-irrigated conditions whereas the same is nearly less than 50% of the
recommended quantity for urea and DAP in different crops due in lack of knowledge, timely
availability, affordability and soil-moisture stress. Women being the backbone of various farm
operations in hills suffer more in lack of gender friendly equipments. Marketing of crops is
primarily dependent on existing formal channel of Mandi system in absence of alternate
channels. The concept of crop processing on commercial scale is non-existent in the study area.
The local breed of cow, goat, hen, sheep and cold water fish are the traditional livestock in the
hilly terrain of the state. Sheep and cold water fish are commonly found in upper reaches. Cow
has traditionally been reared for production of bullock power used in agriculture and to meet
out the basic need of milk. Goat is primarily reared for meat purposes and sheep for meat and
wool. However, the hilly terrain has always been dependent on plains to meet out their basic
needs of milk and meat. The change has been observed during the last decades especially after
formation of Uttarakhand state with regard to rearing of animals of improved breeds including
cow and buffalo.
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Average milk yield of a local cow is 2-3 liters/day whereas the yield of cross bread cows ranges
5-8 liters in high hills, 6-9 liters in mid hills and 7-10 liters in foot hills respectively. Local buffalo
yields milk at a rate of 4-6 liter/day in high and mid hills whereas the same yield 5-7 liters in
foot hills. Milk yield of Murra buffalo is 6-9 liters per day in mid hills whereas the same is 6-10
liters in foot hills. Around 40% of the milk production in the study area is from crossbred cows
which is followed by buffalo (26%) and local cow (14%). Nearly 53% of the milk produced in the
villages is supplied to a commercial dairy . The villagers are paid a milk rate on the basis of fat
percent by Anchal dairy which is around Rs. 20-25/liter in high hills, Rs. 22-28/liter in mid hills
and Rs. 25-35/liter in foot hills. The price paid to the farmers, on the basis of fat percent, is
quite low as compared the prevailing of Rs. 50-60/liter rate in district headquarters. Analysis of
community perceptions indicate that the inadequacy of green fodder year-round is one of the
major reasons for low milk yield (30%) which is followed by the non-existence of improved
breed (18%), small size of livestock holding (15%), sub-standard animal rearing & feeding
practices (15%), marginal profitability through livestock rearing (8%), inadequate number of
buffalo (7%) and others including unavailability of quality feed, low rate of milk, etc.
The dependency of the local community on forests has reduced for a couple of years due to a
number of reasons including reduced open grazing, reduced number of livestock holding due to
migration, increased affordability and access to cooking gas decreasing fuel wood need, use of
iron in building construction works, etc. However, there is forest degradation in some of the
villages due to various reasons. As per analysis of the responses of the community and the
forest officials, illegal cutting of trees is the major reason (25%) which is followed by forest fire
(15%), domination of chirpine trees leading to decreased regeneration (10%), increased human
and livestock pressure on forest (8%) and inadequate plantation of trees to maintain forest
biodiversity (7%). The other factors responsible for forest degradation include lack of
awareness about environment, snow fall, inefficient Van panchayat system, natural calamity,
open grazing, use of wood in construction of link road, etc.
Forest degradation in any form has impacted the livelihoods of the local community in one way
or the other. Around 38% of the responses claim that domination of chirpine trees has lead to
reduced fodder availability due to disappearance of local grasses, shrubs and trees used as
fodder and therefore affecting livestock population which has been one of the income sources
for the community. Decreased fodder availability is followed by increased cost on cooking gas
(24%) as the villagers used to depend on fuel wood from the forest, decreased percent of trees
useful for income generation such as ringal (10%), decreased percent of vegetation used as
food for wild life leading to their dependency on agriculture (9%), reduced availability of honey
(5%), reduced availability of wood used for agricultural implements (4%) and many others
which contribute to impact on livelihoods of the local community.
As per the analysis of responses from the community and forest officials forest fire naturally or
man induced is the major threat to the environment (20%) which not only destroys biodiversity and retards the process of natural regeneration in the forest but also causes smoke in
the environment. Mismanagement of garbage around the villages and cities is another
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important reason (15%) causing threat to the environment which is followed by excessive soil
erosion (13%), damage of new plantation by the wild animals (10%), open defecation (8%),
throwing waste material in the open by tourists (7%), leaving bodies of dead animals in the
open (5%), air pollution created by transport vehicles (5%), increasing human and livestock
pressure on forest (4%), pollution of drinking water (3%) and others including air pollution due
to construction activities,
Based on decades of research by the scientific community, there is now wide recognition that
emissions of greenhouse gases are changing the climate in the Himalayan region and that the
future impact from such changes will be harmful, especially to the rural population of
Uttarakhand. Some of the facts extracted from secondary source include warming in Himalayas
higher than the global average of C
0.74over the last 100 years, erratic and intense
precipitation, receding of glaciers at a rapid rate, formation of glacial lakes behind terminal
moraines, etc.
Villagers lack entrepreneurship in terms of attitude, aptitude and skills to enhance their income
through self-employment. There are very limited examples of sustainable models on microenterprises development. Many of the initiatives taken by the government and nongovernment organization could function only while the external support remained with them.
Most of them collapsed after the external support system was removed. The uncooperative
attitude of the government departments and the support agencies is one of the main reasons
discouraging youths to explore self-employment. Financial institutions and banks present a
major hurdle if the upcoming entrepreneurs want to establish a business and many of them
withdraw at the first stage itself. In fact, bank officials are scared of loan recovery in case of
micro-enterprises. The high rate of failure discourages entrepreneurs in taking risks in
establishing the micro-enterprises. Sales of products of small entrepreneurs is a major problem
due to non-existent or inefficient marketing network, lack of branding, high cost of
transportation, etc.
Key suggestions to deal with the identified gaps include supplementing quality education in
Govt. schools through awareness building, coaching facilities, strengthening computer based
education, strengthening anganwadi (Government run pre-schooling centers run by a paid
woman across the villages) on pilot basis, strengthening school management committees, etc.
Key suggestions with regard to community health focus on reducing IMR and MMR through
building awareness of all stakeholders, regular check-ups, regular services by health workers,
strengthening mobile services, etc. In case of agriculture, key suggestions include effective soil
& moisture conservation practices, creation/maintenance and efficient use of water resources
for increased crop production, increasing access to information & knowledge on crop
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production enhancement and marketing, increased focus on alternate farming practices along
with collective approach for procurement and marketing. Livestock focus is on breed
improvement, increased availability of quality fodder, improved feeding practices,
strengthening association for improved animal health care, marketing, etc. Using the leaves of
chirpine for coal making allowing the forest to regenerate naturally and to enrich the forest biodiversity is one of the suggestions along with increased access of the villagers to minor forest
produces. Suggestions with regard to climate change and environment include effective
awareness building strategies, community based approaches, vulnerability and adaptability
analysis and planning. Promoting youth and women lead micro-enterprises for alternate
livelihoods through entrepreneurship development, identification of viable activities,
establishing linkages with support agencies, developing effective value chain, etc.
Bageshwar, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh districts have been
prioritized on the basis of detailed analysis and ranking of indicators including sex ratio, SC
population, ST population, number of BPL families, literacy rate, infant mortality rate, presence
of small & marginal farmers, area covered under irrigation, agriculture production, meat
production and milk production. Two blocks have been prioritized in each of the identified
districts using the criterion of sex ratio, literacy rate, percent area under cultivation, percent
area under irrigation and percent of small & marginal farmers. The action plan suggested for
taking off focuses on potential areas for intervention, vision, prioritized location, target
communities, development of strategy document, initiatives to be taken for building,
partnership along with planning & implementation strategies.
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1. BACKGROUND AND APPROACH

1.1.
Context
The developmental issues in Hilly Region are different than the Tarai (Planes) in the state of
Uttarakhand. The economic condition of medium and large farmers along with small scale
business communities is better in Tarai as compared to the hilly region due to intensive
agriculture and industrialization after becoming an independent state. However, landless and
farming communities with small holdings especially dominated by scheduled castes/tribes
remain marginalized on socio-economic fronts in Tarai. Major issues in Hilly region includes
frequent disasters & natural calamities, degradation of natural resources, low land productivity
& income of farming community, poor health services, access to safe drinking water, etc. In
spite of a higher degree of literacy and heightened political awareness, farming communities in
the Hilly region faces low agricultural productivity and income due to a variety of reasons
including an erratic rainfall pattern & intensity, small and unconsolidated land holding pattern,
low irrigation coverage, higher degree of soil erosion, inadequate technological solutions suited
for a hilly landscape as it relates to an increase in agricultural production, low milk production
due to using a traditional breed (as opposed to a hybrid) and a lack of improved rearing
practices. Additionally, poor facilities for processing & marketing of crops, milk, meat and
minor forest produces along with inefficient farmers' institutions to create collective actions
contribute to a lack of positive growth.
Central/State initiatives with regard to a rural livelihood mission, rural health mission, literacy
mission, water & sanitation, disaster management, integrated watershed management, crop
diversification, organic farming and many others are involved in dealing with the key issues in
the state. Tata Trust, IFAD, Reliance Foundation, Azimji Prem ji Foundation, Oxfam, Action Aid,
IGSSS, Christian Aid, HelpAge, CASA, Save The Children, CRY, Plan International, World Bank, UN
Organisations, I-Impact, America India Foundation, Piramel Foundation, Star TV Network, Titan,
CBM are some of the non-governmental International Funding Organizations and Corporate
Social Responsibility Initiatives that are contributing to dealing with these issues focusing on the
identified thematic areas in different parts of the state according to their priorities and
capacities. Central/State Government being a major change agent as compared to the other
donors/agencies in terms of financial outlay through various developmental schemes &
programs across the state, nature of work of most of the non-government initiatives is small,
specific and scattered in the state. A few donors collaborate with the state Government to
achieve a common goal whereas majority of these organizations work independently.
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The Hans Foundation (THF)/Rural India Support Trust (RIST) has announced 'Uttarakhand 2020',
a comprehensive statewide development program, focusing on disease prevention, children's
education and forest regeneration in Uttarakhand. The project is designed to significantly
improve the quality of life of the low-income communities of the entire state. A set of carefully
selected programs are planned to be scaled up in one of the nation's most powerful village
development campaigns. NRI billionaire Manoj Bhargava, co-founder of The Hans Foundation,
has pledged Rs. 500 crores to fund Uttarakhand 2020.
At this point of time THF/RIST is working on a holistic & realistic perspective along with clear
approach & strategies to plan and execute to achieve a goal to be set for socio-economic
development of the target community in the state. Livelihood Solutions, a Social Sector
Consulting Group, has been involved for setting the baseline towards the initiatives to be taken
by Hans Foundation in the state.
1.2.
Objective of the Study
The objective of the baseline study will put emphasis on creating an analytical framework
for developing a perspective/work plan including vision, mission implementation strategies,
prioritized locations, beneficiary analysis, stakeholders analysis, guiding principles,
monitoring & evaluation framework and tentative action plan.
1.3.
Scope of the Study
The scope of work will focus on sector and sub-sector analysis for developing a perspective plan
to be implemented in the state of Uttarakhand.
1.3.1. Sectors and Sub-sectors Analysis
The study will focus on the following sectors and sub-sectors. Adopting a Farming System
Approach that is relevant to the state
Agriculture; major crops, cultivated area under major crops, cultivation practices including
organic farming and off-season vegetable cultivation, irrigation coverage, production &
productivity, marketing network, processing & value addition, challenges & opportunities,
major change agents involved in addressing to the issues/concerns.
Livestock; type of animals and their breeds, population, livestock rearing practices, access to
health care services, meat & milk production along with productivity, marketing network,
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processing & value addition, challenges & opportunities, major change agents involved in
addressing to the issues/concerns.
Poultry; breeds, bird population, poultry practices, access to health care services,
production & productivity, marketing network, processing & value addition, challenges &
opportunities, major change agents involved in addressing to the issues/concerns.
Fishery; major water bodies/sources, production & productivity, marketing network,

processing & value addition, challenges & opportunities, major change agents involved in
addressing to the issues/concerns.
a) Off-Farm and Non-Farm Livelihoods; type of non-farm livelihood strategies in the state
including Non-timber Forest produces (NTFP), tourism/eco-tourism, trading; selfemployment, agri-business and processing, etc. income/profitability under various business
strategies, challenges & opportunities, major change agents involved in addressing to the
issues/concerns.
b) Health; coverage of villages under water & sanitation facilities, access to safe drinking
water, existence and usage of toilets, access to cooking gas, access to smokeless Chullas,
infant/child mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, access of women and children to health
care services, challenges & opportunities, major change agents involved in addressing to the
issues/concerns.
c) Education; coverage of mid-day meal as part of nutrition management, access to mid-day
meal, quality of mid-day meal, technological (IT enabled) interventions to enhance quality
of education at primary and secondary levels, challenges & opportunities, major change
agents involved in addressing to the issues/concerns.
d) Environment; extent of land degradation through soil erosion, excessive runoff and
deforestation, coverage under soil & moisture conservation, water conservation/harvesting,
irrigation coverage, water use efficiency, coverage under afforestation, challenges &
opportunities, major change agents involved in addressing to the issues/concerns
1.3.2. Action Planning
The task will include problem analysis, setting sector specific goal & purpose, identification of
potential geography, sector/sub-sector specific interventions, setting tentative physical &
financial targets, stakeholders' analysis along with drawing strategies for effective participation
Page | 16
of various stakeholders including the implementation partner agencies and community

institutions
Community responses including their perceptions and analysis will be the strong basis for
problem analysis and suggesting solutions
1.4.
Approach and Methodology
1.4.1. Approach
A logical framework approach was adopted with a view to identify issues and sub-issues, design
schedules and to collect qualitative and quantitative information from different sources across
the sectors/sub-sectors. Analytical framework focused on the following key questions;
What are the major problems across the selected sectors/sub-sectors?

Which locations are most affected under these problems?
What is the extent of problem in each of the locations?
Who are the players involved in dealing with these problems including the Government,
Private Sector/Corporate, Donors, Community Institutions, such as Farmers Organizations,
etc.?
What is degree of involvement of these players in dealing with the problems?
What are the achievements in dealing with the problems?
What challenges are being faced by the different players in dealing with the problems?
What are possibilities for partnership with other funding agencies to deal with the
problems?
What strategies could be drawn to collaborate with funding agencies in dealing with the
problems?
Analytical framework was developed on the basis of information collected from primary
and secondary sources covering various aspects across the selected sectors/sub-sectors. In
addition to quantitative data, qualitative information was also collected through
interactive processes carried out with different respondents. Approach with regard to
information collection included;
Collection of secondary information for the state as a whole for the selected
sectors/sub-sectors
Interaction with state level representatives for collecting qualitative information
Page | 17
Collection of secondary information for different regions covering high hills, mid hills,
foot hills.
Interaction with regional representatives for collecting qualitative information covering

high hills, mid hills, foot hills belt as mentioned in sample design
Respondents were identified for carrying out interaction process at state and region levels.
The list included Government officials, funding agencies, NGO representatives,
representatives from research agencies, etc.
Outcome of analytical framework reflected as perspective plan focusing on;
What sectors/Sub-sectors to be taken up for interventions?

What interventions will be focused during next 5 years?
Where these interventions will be made?
Who to be the beneficiaries under different interventions?
Who may be potential funding partners to collaborate in different areas?
Who may be local partners for effective implementation of the projects?
Who may be potential agencies to be involved as other stakeholders?
1.4.2. Methodology
The detailed methodology to be adopted will include the steps as below.
Team Formation
Project Implementation Team (PIT) was formed by Livelihood Solutions for undertaking the
assignment consisting of professionals specialized in project planning, social research, data
analysis along with subject matter specialist in agriculture, rural development, health &
education, etc.
PIT was equipped with required capacity building inputs to ensure increased efficiency and
quality of primary and secondary data collection and data analysis.
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Desk Review
PIT carried out a desk review of the documents and literature related to the assignment
applicable for the state of Uttarakhand. Most of the documents accessed through various
websites relevant to scope of the study in the state.
The studied sectors/Sub-sectors included primary/secondary education, community health,

agriculture, livestock, forest, livelihood strategies and environment.
Respondents' Analysis
A detailed exercise was carried out with regard to identification and communication with
different sources and respondents for collecting primary and secondary information.
The list included sector/sub-sector specific Government departments/agencies, funding

agencies, NGO representatives, representatives from research & training agencies,
community representatives/community institutions, etc.
Designing Tools & Techniques
Having studied the terms of reference (ToR) and relevant documents, PIT developed
relevant tools & techniques including the questionnaire/schedule for information
collection from different sets of respondents.
The study tools were shared with THF/RIST along with inception report with a view to seek
and incorporate the suggestions.
Tools & techniques were piloted in the field and the changes were incorporated to ensure
relevance and quality of the data and to know whether useful and reliable results are being
obtained by the methods.
Study Sample
Five sectors were covered under the study including farming systems (agriculture,
horticulture, sericulture, floriculture, apiculture, animal husbandry & dairying, poultry),
off-farm and non-farm livelihoods, women & child health, primary & secondary education
and environment. A detailed sample size followed for conducting the study in 6 blocks is
presented as below.
Page | 19
High hills
Mid hills
Foot Hills
: Bin (Pithoragarh) and Bhatwadi ( Uttarkashi)

: Dhauladevi (Almora and Chamba ( Tehri Garhwal)
: Bheemtal (Nainital) and Vikas Nagar/Raipur (Dehradun)
As per the details available in the table below, around 526 farmers from 24 villages were
interacted during field work for primary data collection.
Table-1: Study Sample
Location
Altitude
District
Block
Villages
Community
Respondents
Families
Covered
(Meter)
(No)
(No)
(No)
High Hills
Mid Hills
> 1800
1000-1800
2
2
2
2
8
8
187
170
981
380
Foot Hills
<1000
169
1565
24
526
2926
Total
Information Collection for Setting Baseline
An action plan was shared with THF/RIST along with inception report mentioning the
schedule for the field work.
PIT collected contact details of the stakeholders to be interacted in the field with regard to
intensive interaction and data collection.
Major quantitative information was collected from state offices/official websites whereas
qualitative aspects were covered through interaction with the primary stakeholders in
field.
Respondents were identified and interaction was carried out with them for gathering
the planned information through the planned tools & techniques. Local NGOs were
interacted for understanding the local scenario in their working areas which was
followed by focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members in the selected
villages.
Page | 20
Intensive interaction process was carried out with the block level officials in the
identified geographies for collecting qualitative and quantitative information. The list of
block level officials included the departments of education, health, agriculture, animal
husbandry, forest, water & sanitation, etc.
State Government Offices, National Level Government Organisations, Non-govt.

organizations, Funding Agencies working in the state were interacted for collecting
qualitative information on various aspects covered under the study.
Monitoring & Quality Control
Study Coordinator remained in the field to monitor the quality of data collection process.
Data collected was reviewed on daily basis in the field itself and the gaps were identified to
make correction.
Study schedules were finalized after incorporating changes and submitted to the study
coordinator
Study coordinator submitted the schedules for data entry after verification of the same.
Problematic issues with regard to information collection process and deciding the corrective
measures were not observed during the field work as the study was supported by the local
NGOs.
Documentation & Reporting
The information collected through all sources was compiled and analyzed
Draft report has been prepared to share with THF/RIST for their suggestions and inputs
Draft report will be finalized after incorporating the suggestions/inputs of the client
Page | 21
2. OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS

2.1.
Study Population
As per Indian constitution Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward
Community (OBC) have been declared as the under-privileged categories of the society eligible
for certain rights & entitlements in various development schemes of the Central/State
Governments. The socio-economic hierarchy in India puts the General category on top which is
followed by OBC, SC and ST. The caste/category analysis is one of the major indicators for
identification of the target community for planning the development initiatives.
Information was gathered for 2926 families from 24 villages consisting of 981, 380 and 1565 in
high, mid and foot hills respectively. The details of study population included 59% of the
households belonging to General, 21.2% to SC/ST and 19.8% to OBC categories. The percent of
OBC population in the study area is higher because Bhatwadi block has been declared as
backward area by the state Government and all the families have been issued certificate of OBC
and hence the study population presented itself as OBC.
As per the details provided in the table below, nearly 51% of families in the studied villages in
high hills belong to OBC category whereas the same is 8.5% in foot hills. OBC population in the
studied villages was found insignificant in mid hills. Around 97% of OBC families in high hills
come from Bhatwadi block of Uttarkashi district whereas above 87% of the OBC families in foot
hills are from Vikas Nagar block. Around 31% of the studied families in high hills belong to SC/ST
category of which 71% are from Bhatwadi block. The percent of SC/ST families is nearly 7.6 in
mid hills from around 35% of the studied villages. Around 84% of the SC/ST families in foot hills
are from Vikas Nagar block only.
Table-2: Social Category
Location
Total Families
(No)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
981
380
1565
OBC Families
(%)
SC/ST families
(%)
Landless Families
(%)
51
0
8.5
19.8
31
7.6
25
21.2
6.8
7.9
5.5
6.7
Landlessness relates to the families which do not have cultivable land or having insignificant
land holding 0.04- 0.06 ha. The percent of landless families in the studied area is 6.7% as against
Page | 22
the state average of 7% which varies from 5.5 (foot hills) to 7.9 (mid hills) whereas the same is
6.8 in high hills. However, all landless families in high hills belong to SC community in Channa
village in Bin block of Pithoragarh district. Similarly all families identified as landless in mid hills
are from Saur Jaripani village of Chamba block in Tehri Grhwal district. The percent of landless
families in the study sample indicate 87% from Vikas Nagar block of Dehradun district. Most of
the landless families in the study area belong to SC community who have been traditionally
depending on labor and artisan work to ensure their livelihood.
2.2.
School Education
Major aspects covered in the study under school education included enrollment, attendance,
dropout rate of the children along with water & sanitation facilities, Mid Day Meal (MDM) and
Information Technology (IT) enabled education at primary, middle and intermediate levels in
Government schools.
2.2.1. Enrollment
As indicated in the following table, 100% children including the girls are enrolled to government
or private schools in the villages covered under study as against the state average of 95.6%
according to accessibility, priority and affordability. The figure presented in the table does not
include the children of immigrating labor community engaged by the contractors for
construction work from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal. The population of this category is
insignificant in the studied villages. However, their population density is more near road
construction sites or in cities where construction activities are more.
Table-3: Enrollment in Schools
Location
Schooling Age
Children
(No)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
136
101
211
Schooling Age
Girls
(No)
Enrolled Children
Girls Enrolled
(%)
(%)
60
62
113
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
According to the block level officials around 80-90% children are enrolled to the Government
schools in rural areas whereas this percentage is around 40-50% in urban areas. The state
initiatives to increase enrollment include door to door approach, conducting village
Page | 23
meetings/small group discussion, organizing campaigns (School Chalo Abhiyan), provision of

MDM to all enrolled children, provision of scholarship to SC/ST students, free books and
uniform to students, formation and capacity building or school management committees
(SMCs), etc. However, in most of the cases priority of the parents remains to send their children
to private schools if available, accessible and affordable. Even the teachers in Government
schools prefer to educate their children in private schools preferably in cities. In many cases the
teachers from rural areas have shifted their base to cities for educating their kids. The children
enrolled in Government schools are primarily from poor category who are unable to afford the
cost of private schools and/or they have no other option.
According to the respondents across the study including the teachers and block level officials of
the department, around 15-20% of the schools have less than 10 students whereas nearly 1530% schools have 10-20 students only. The remaining schools have around 35-55 children per
school. The state policies, quality of education, school environment for teaching & learning,
compatibility of teaching methodology to the market demand are some of the factors for
disinterest of parents to send their children to Government schools. According to the teachers
and block level officials of education department teacher-student ratio is 1:40 in most of the
primary schools running 5 classes from 1st to 5th standard. They feel that the number of
teachers should be 6 including 1 headmaster and 1 teacher each for 5 classes even if the
number of students is 40 in the school.
There is only 1 teacher in around 15% of
the schools especially in rural areas and
around 60% of the schools have 1-2
teachers only. Most of the time teachers
are involved in all kind of census work and
hence the schools with single teacher
remain closed during this period and also
when s/he is on leave. In cases where
there 2 teachers per school for 5 classes
this reduces closure of schools as one
teacher is remains present when the
other one is on leave.
Schooling age is also one of the factors responsible for low enrollment in Government schools.
According to the Government norms the children are admitted to school at the age 5 years
whereas the private schools admit at the age of 3. Therefore, most of the parents do not wait
for government schools and admit their kids to private schools. The concept of Anganwadi
Page | 24
which is supposed to enroll all the children at the lower age is also inactive leaving limited
options to the parents to admit their kids to private schools. Government officials and teachers
feel that Shishu (Low age Child) classes may fill up this gap.
Teachers training course is mandatory for recruitment of the teachers in Government schools.
One has to compete first for seeking admission in training schools/colleges and then compete
for recruitment to work as a teacher Government schools. Private schools employ untrained
teachers as well. Higher salary package and job security attract the better-off trained teachers
to opt for Government schools. In addition, they are provided with time-to-time specific
trainings by the state level agencies which is lacking in private schools. However, most of the
parents feel that the teachers in Government schools lack commitment towards their
responsibility as they have got a secured job. The quality education is a major constraint felt by
the parents to admit their children in Government schools. According to the teachers and
officials of education department, the students cannot be failed up to 8th standard that
encourage higher degree of carelessness amongst most of the students in Government schools.
The schools located far away from the road head get limited attention from the teachers and
officials in addition to absence of teachers and inadequate number of teachers. The concept of
Parents Teachers Meet (PTM) is not very effective as most of the parents are from poor
category and have limited awareness. School management committee members are equally
weak and have limited say on issues.
Private schools feel that poor quality of education in Government schools is a motivational
factor for them to attract the children to their schools. Private schools focus on English medium
to enhance written and spoken communication skills in English. The private schools are also
concerned about their credibility and hence focus on quality delivery to achieve the best results
for sustaining the enrollment. Parents also view that English medium will be more useful for
their children to get admission in good schools/colleges for higher studies leading to better jobs
as the market. The market demands professionals adequately equipped with excellent
communication skills (English) and personality. However, the officials feel that the private
schools are growing even in rural areas ignoring the Government norms. They find the state
policies responsible for the same.
2.2.2. Attendance
As per the details available in the following table, an average attendance of school going
children is 81% whereas the same is 83% for girls varying from 79.4% in mid hills to 85.25% in
high hills.
Page | 25
Table-4: Attendance in Schools

Location
Enrolled Children
(No)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
136
101
211
Enrolled Girls
(%)
Attendance Children
(%)
Attendance Girls
(%)
60
62
113
81.5
80.6
81.5
81
85.25
79.4
85.0
83
reasons for being absent from schools are related to sickness of the students which is followed
by traveling of students out of village (21%), closure of state government schools in absence of
teachers (15%), rains or road blockage during rainy season (14%) and engagement of children in
household work (13%). In addition, the reasons cited by the villagers for low attendance in
schools include passing through forest areas, involvement of school teachers in other activities,
long distance, inadequate number of teachers in schools, snowfall, low interest of children and
in education, lack of awareness of parents, incomplete home work given by the teachers, etc.
With regard to low attendance of girls in schools the reasons are more or less similar but their
rating differs with boys. Engagement in household activities is the most important reason (18%)
for their absence from schools which is followed by travelling out of village (16%), sickness
(14%), absence of teachers or inadequacy of teachers in schools or their involvement in other
activities (12%), rains or road blockage during rainy season (8%), involvement in family
functions/celebrations (7%) and access to schools through forest areas. In addition, the reasons
cited by the villagers for low attendance in schools include involvement in household chores,
taking care of younger brothers/sisters, snowfall, lack of security, lack of awareness of parents
on girls' education, long distance of schools, etc.
2.2.3. Dropout Rate
According to the community respondents, children hardly drop out at basic junior/Primary
level. However, dropout rate is increased at basic senior and intermediate levels. Average
dropout rate is 9.1% at basic senior and 19% at intermediate levels which is higher as against
the state average of 3.98 and 4.61% respectively. Average dropout rate for girls is 12.2% and
24.6% at basic senior and intermediate level which is higher than overall dropout rate. Figures
available in the following table indicate reducing dropout trend for both children and girls from
high to low altitude except for the girls after intermediate level in foot hills. Dropout rate for
Page | 26
girls is almost higher at basic senior and intermediate levels both except the case of basic senior
level in high hills.
More specifically the dropout rate in high hills comes primarily from Bin block of Pithoragarh
district whereas the same is from Dhauladevi block of Almora district in mid hills. In case of
foothills dropout rate at basic senior level is primarily from Bilaspur village of Bheemtal block.
Table-5: Dropout in Schools
Location
Basic Junior Schools
Children
Girls
(%)
(%)
High Hills
0
0
Mid Hills
0
0
Foot Hills
0
0
Average
0
0
Basic Senior Schools

Children
Girls
(%)
(%)
15
15
7.5
14
5
7.5
9.1
12.2
Intermediate Schools
Children
Girls
(%)
(%)
20
28
19
21
18
25
19
24.6
reasons for dropout rate of the children at basic senior and intermediate levels are related to
engagement in livelihood activities due to poverty, which is followed by access to employment
(14%), disinterest in further studies (12%), long distance of schools (8%) and continued failure
more than 2 terms (8%). Other reasons cited for dropout rate include passing through forest
areas, lack of awareness of parents, lack of proper guidance, etc.
Similarly major reasons for dropout of girls at basic senior and intermediate levels include early
marriage of girls (28%), poverty (18%), responsibility to support parents in all kind of tasks
(13%), continued failure & disinterest in further studies (11%), parents' discrimination towards
girls' education (10%) along with long and unsecured road to schools (8%). Other reasons
include access to employment opportunities, involved in household chores, etc.
2.2.4. IT Enabled Education
The concept of IT enabled education started in the state during 2005. Since then around 90%
junior and intermediate schools in mid hills and foot hills have been provided with computer
facilities along with printers whereas the same is non-existent in primary schools. On an
average 2 computers in junior and 4 computers in intermediate schools have been provided by
the state Government. The field observations indicate around 30-40% dysfunctional computers
or printers in lack of adequate skills of the teachers to handle the same.
Page | 27
A 10 days training was provided to the teachers to facilitate computer education in schools. The
teachers found the training of basic level and intended much more to impart education to the
children. However, no permanent computer teachers were appointed in schools.
According to the school teachers, they allocate around 35% of the periods (Class Hours) in a
year for imparting basic information about the computer including starting the system along
with opening windows & shutting down the system followed by 20% periods for opening and
typing word and excel files, 20% periods for practice in word file, 15% for use of internet and
10% in coloring the figures using mouse.
2.2.5. Water and Sanitation Facilities
As presented in the table below, nearly 82% of the schools are equipped with drinking water
facilities. As reported at the block level all schools are having drinking water facilities in Vikas
Nagar block of foot hills whereas the facility is available only in 50% schools of Bheemtal block.
Around 85% of the schools are accessible to the facility in mid hills varying from 80% in
Dhaluadevi to 96% in Chamba block. In case of high hills all the schools have drinking water
facility in Bhatwadi block whereas only 50% of the schools have the facility in Bin block of
Pitoragarh.
Table6:- Drinking Water Facility
Location
Drinking Water Facility
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
75
85
100
82
As per the data presented in the table below, toilet facilities are available in 63% of the schools
in the study area with the figures of 62.8%, 68.6% and 58.7% in high, mid and foot hills
respectively. The toilets are used in 90% of the schools only in Bin block of Pithoragarh district
of high hills whereas in mid hills the same are used in 38% of the schools of Dhauladevi block.
However, the toilets are used in 73% of schools across the blocks in foot hills. Around half of
the toilets are maintained by students or the paid sweepers, a traditional SC community
involved in cleaning and collection of garbage for earning its livelihood.
Page | 28
Table-7-: Toilets in Schools

Location
Toilet Facility for Girls
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Total
Average
62.8
68.6
58.7
190.1
63
Usage of Toilet Facility

(%)
Maintenance of Toilets
(%)
90
38
73
201
67
50
50
50
150
50
Cleanliness is one of the major reasons (61%) for not using the toilets in schools as shared by
village community and the school going children which is followed by lack of water availability
(24%). Other reasons cited by the respondents included toilets without doors, toilet under lock
& key by the school teachers, poor maintenance, etc.
2.2.6. Mid-Day-Meal
National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education is implemented with a view to
enhancing enrollment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional
levels among children. At the State level department of education is responsible for
implementing the scheme. The State Project Director of "Uttarakhand Education for all" is
responsible for the overall management of the programme. The State Project Director
coordinates with Secretary Education, ICDS department and Department of food and supply.
Education Secretary coordinates with Government of India for the implementation of the
scheme in the State. Food and Supply department share the responsibility of lifting the food
grains from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns and providing it to schools through Public
Distribution System (PDS) shops. District Magistrate Supervises the Implementation and
Monitoring of Scheme at district level. Under the supervision of District Magistrate, Additional
District Education Officer (Nodal Officer), and District Supply Officer (DSO) implement the
scheme in all govt. and govt. aided schools in the district. Block Education Officer is nodal
officer for Implementation of Scheme at block level. The responsibility of implementation at
school level is of Head Master and School Management Committee. The norms for engagement
of cook-cum-helper include one cook- cum-helper for schools up to 25 students, two cookscum-helpers for schools with 26 to 100 students and one additional cook-cum-helper for every
addition of upto 100 students.
The cost provision of MDM is Rs. 4.01/ child in primary schools and Rs. 5.50/ in junior schools.
According to the community participants, quality of mid day meal has improved over a period
of time due to strict monitoring. On an average 81.7% of the responses indicate good quality of
the meal whereas around 15% of them say satisfactory. Only 3.3% of the responses qualify the
Page | 29
meal as very good. Meal quality is rated high in mid hills as very good (10%) or good (90%)
which is followed by foot hills as good (90%) or satisfactory (10%). Meal quality in high hills is
rated as good (65%) and satisfactory (35)
Table-8: Mid-day Meal
Location
MDM Facility
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
(%)
100
100
100
100
Very Good
(%)
0
10
0
3.3
Quality of Mid-day Meal

Good
Satisfactory
(%)
(%)
65
35
90
0
90
10
81.7
15
Poor
(%)
0
0
0
0
Community in the study villages including the school going children rated the quality of MDA as
Very Good, Good, Satisfactory and Poor on the basis of quantity of food, quantity of water in
Dal or watery vegetables, presence of insects in food, dirty food, availability of stones in rice,
lack of cleanliness during cooking and service, unchanged food items, etc.
Page | 30
2.3.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
The aspects covered in the study under community health included Infant Mortality Rate (IMR),
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), community access to health care services, preventive
measures like cooking gas & smokeless chulla along with water & sanitation facilities.
2.3.1. Infant Mortality Rate & Maternal Mortality Ratio
Infant mortality is the death of a child less than one year of age. It is measured as infant
mortality rate (IMR), which is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000
live births. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per
100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management
(excluding accidental or incidental causes)
As indicated in the following table, the average IMR in the studied blocks is 33 infant deaths per
1000 births which is slightly higher than the state average of 32. The highest IMR figure of 45 is
in Chamba block which is followed by 40 in Bhatwadi. The Average IMR is in the foot hills, which
varies from 31 in Bhimtal to 34 in Vikas Nagar whereas the same is 23 in Bin and 25 in
Dhauladevi blocks respectively.
According to Annual Health Survey (AHS)-2011 report through Uttarakhand Health and Family
Welfare Society, average Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 188/1,00,000 for Uttarakhand as a
whole whereas the same is 183 for Kumaun and 190 for Garhwal regions respectively. An
average rate of 173 is much below the state average of 188 (Annual Health Survey Report of
2011 under data). IMR is highest in Bheemtal block with a figure of 183 which is followed by
182 in Bin, 158 in Vikas Nagar and 152 in Chmba blocks
Table-9: Mortality Rate
Location
IMR
(No/Thousand)
High Hills
31
Mid Hills
35
Foot Hills
33
Average
33
State average
32
Page | 31
MMR
(No/Lac)
182
152
185
173
188
As per the frequency of responses of the community participants for home births involving midwives, the most important factor responsible for IMR is premature delivery with a figure of 23%
which is followed by infection (21%), malnutrition (19%), diseases by birth (15%), inability to
access to health care centers due to poverty (7%) and lack of timely treatment (5%). According
to the Block level Government Hospitals it is extremely difficult to say what caused the
premature delivery i.e. malnutrition, diseases, inaccessibility to healthcare, etc in case of home
births. The other factors responsible for IMR include lack of awareness, lack of guidance to
pregnant women by ANMs and Asha Workers, discrimination with girl child in the family, lack of
proper nutritive food, ignorance of health care of pregnant women, natural accidents, etc.
With regard to high MMR, around 20% of the reasons are related to excessive physical work by
women during pregnancy which is followed by malnutrition (18%), infection and low
hemoglobin (17%), natural accidents on hilly tracks (10%), inability to access to the hospitals
(9%), taking services of untrained mid-wives for delivery facilitation (8%) and premature
delivery (5%). In addition, early marriage, inadequate support of ANM and Asha workers,
ignorance about health care of pregnant women, lack of awareness, problem of anemia, high
blood pressure, discrimination with women after giving birth to girl child, lack of balance diet
due to poverty are some of the reasons responsible for high MMR.
Central and State Governments have been active for controlling IMR and MMR across the
states through various initiatives including National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The National
Rural Health mission (NRHM) provides accessible, affordable and quality health care to the rural
population, especially the vulnerable groups. The key features in order to achieve the goals of
the Mission include making the public health delivery system fully functional and accountable
to the community, human resources management, community involvement, decentralization,
rigorous monitoring & evaluation against standards, convergence of health and related
programs form village level upwards, innovations and flexible financing and also interventions
for improving the health indictors. Uttarakhand Health & Family Welfare Society was
constituted in the year 2002 with aim to serve as umbrella society for all national programs
including NRHM and effect health sector reforms with the help of external funding agencies
such as USAID.
Various initiatives taken at the Government level to control IMR and MMR include building
awareness of the community about various schemes through ANM and Asha Workers and
encouraging women for safe delivery in hospitals. Focus is also laid on involvement of NonGovernment Organisations (NGOs) in creating awareness in the community about welfare
schemes and establishing their linkages with the department of Health & Family Welfare.
Page | 32
The initiatives also include immunization of pregnant women, supply of iron and calcium
tablets, blood testing, regular check up of mother and child, etc. An incentive of Rs. 1,400/case
is provided for hospital delivery for women living in rural areas whereas the amount is Rs.
1,000/ case for urban areas. Various schemes focusing on IMR and MMR include Khusion Ki
Sawari, Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) for mother, Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojna (JSSY). Janani
Suraksha Yojana is an Indian Government scheme aiming at decreasing the neo-natal and
maternal deaths happening in the country by promoting institutional delivery of babies. This is
a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission. It is a 100% centrally
sponsored scheme it integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. The
success of the scheme would be determined by the increase in institutional delivery among the
poor families.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) is a step further in ensuring better facilities for
women and child health services.
State ensures benefits under JSSK
to reach every needy pregnant
woman coming to government
institutional facility. The Free
Entitlements under JSSK include
Free and Cashless Delivery, Free CSection, Free treatment of sicknew-born up to 30 days,
Exemption from User Charges, Free
Drugs and Consumables, Free
Diagnostics, Free Diet during stay
in the health institutions 3 days in case of normal delivery and 7 days in case of caesarean
section, Free Provision of Blood, Free Transport from Home to Health Institutions, Free
Transport between facilities in case of referral as also Drop Back from Institutions to home after
48hrs stay. Khushiyon Ki Sawari scheme is being run under Janani Shishu Suraksha Programme
under the aegis of National Health Mission and Uttarakhand State Government. The scheme
provides rented transports to provide pregnant women better health care services and ensure
that the mothers and the infants health are taken best care of.
2.3.2. Distance to Health Care Facilities
Distance is a major factor in the state to access various services including healthcare. The
facility of mobile service (108) has been a boon to the community in the rural areas. The 108
Emergency Response Service is a free emergency service providing integrated medical, police
Page | 33
and fire emergency services under NRHM. In addition, the Government has a subsidized
scheme to equip the village community with an improved version of Doli (A traditional way of
taking the emergency and delivery cases to the health care centers) to take the
patients/pregnant women to the nearest health care centers or to the road head. The new
version has replaced wood with iron which has made the same heavier leading to increased
load persons carrying Doli. However, there are still number of villages in interior areas where
the villagers are struggling with the problem of distance especially the villages where 108
Mobile Van does not reach.
As per the state norms Primary Health Center (PHC) is available in the range of 10 km whereas
Community Health Center (CHC) is available in the range of 20 km. The villagers in the studied
area have to travel from 3 to 15 Km to access the hospitals and/or dispensaries in high hills
whereas the facilities are available within a range of 20 km in mid and foot hills.
With regard to drinking water villagers are able to access to drinking water within a range of 0.5
km in high and foot hills whereas the villagers in mid hills have to walk up to 1.5 km to fetch
drinking water. These are the households who do not have the water connection and fetch
water from the nearest water source such as natural spring or Gadhera. Swajaldhara scheme
has been involved in development and management of these water sources.
Table-10: Distance Covered
Location
Hospital
(Km)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
3-15
1-20
1-20
Drinking Water
(Km)
0-0.5
0-1.5
0-0.5
2.3.3. Household Facilities

Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) has played an important role in promotion of construction and
use of toilets across the country. A similar approach has been followed in Uttarakhand as well.
As per the details available in the table below, around 90% of the families in villages covered
under study in mid hills have access to the toilet facilities which is followed by 80% families in
foot hills and 60% in high hills. However, the coverage of villages with toilet facility ranges from
15% to 100% in high hills and 50-100% in mid and foot hills. It indicates that some of the villages
have higher access to toilet facilities whereas only a small segment of the community is
Page | 34
accessible to the facility in others. However, it was difficult for the villagers to correlate toilet
facilities with health issues.
Table-11: Health Care Facilities
Location
Toilet Facilities
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
60 (15-100)
90 (50-100)
80 (50-100)
Cooking Gas
(%)
Smokeless Chullah
(%)
59 (10-95)
70 (25-100)
74(25-100)
7
15
14
Similarly, around 74% of the families access to cooking gas ranging from 25% to 100% in foot
hills which is followed by 70% ranging coverage 25-100% in mid hills and 59% with coverage of
10-95% in high hills. Again the indication is that some of the villages have higher access to
cooking gas whereas a small segment of the community is accessible to cooking gas facility in
other villages.
Regarding smokeless chulla, nearly 25% of the families have facility in Vikas Nagar block which
is followed by 20% in Chamba and 10% in Bhatwadi blocks. The facility is with 5% and 3% of the
studied families only in Bin and Bhimtal blocks. The concept has been existent in Garhwal
region since the Colonial Period. They construct chulla with stone masonry equipped with
cement/iron pipe to let the smoke go out of the house.
Page | 35
2.4.
AGRICULTURE
Major issued covered in agriculture sector under the study include area under cultivation, crops
grown during different seasons along with their yield, crop rotation, status of irrigation
coverage, use of chemical fertilizers, alternate farming practices and major concerns with
regard to productivity and income.
2.4.1. Cultivated Area
As per the data presented in the table below, around 221 ha of areas is cultivated in the study
area indicating an increasing cultivation pattern from high to foot hills with figures of 61 ha, 70
ha and 90 ha respectively. Almost 100% area is sown during monsoon season (Kharif) across the
regions whereas the same is nearly 87% during winter season with regional figures of 90%, 87%
and 85% in high, mid and foot hills. The area covered under cultivation during summer is
around 20% only in Vikas Nagar and Bhatwadi blocks where irrigation facilities are there. The
farmers in high hills try to cover most of the cultivable land during winter through the most
appropriate cropping pattern taking benefit of low temperature but nearly 10-15% of the area
remains barren in lack of irrigation facilities. The cropped area is reduced during winter in
absence of irrigation. Average land holding of the studied farmers is 0.37 ha ranging from 0.30
ha in high hills to 0.43 ha in foot hills.
Table-12: Area under Cultivation
Location
Total Area
Monsoon
(Ha)
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
61
70
90
221
100
100
100
Winter
(%)
Summer
(%)
Average Holding
(ha)
90
87
85
15
0
25
20
0.30
0.38
0.43
0.37
2.4.2. Land and Water

As presented in the following table, an average land covered under irrigation mainly through
canal network in the study villages is nearly 21% with regional figures of 47%, 11% and 5% in
foot, high and mid hills respectively. Around two-third of area covered under irrigation in foot
hills belong to Vikas Nagar block only whereas irrigation coverage exists only in Bhatwadi block
in high hills. Area covered in mid hills is scattered in the villages across the blocks. There is no
source of water for irrigation in 59% of the villages covered under study following rain-fed
Page | 36
farming. Canal is a water source for irrigation in around 23% of the situations which is followed
by rain water harvesting structures constructed to provide support irrigation through earthen
open channel or closed pipe (18%) mainly in mid and high hills.
The concept of micro-irrigation has not reached as yet in the villages across the study area and
hence less than 1% of the farmers in the Bheemtal block access to the facility.
Table-13: Land & Water
Location
Irrigated
Area affected by
Area
Soil Erosion
(%)
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
11
5
47
21
30
29
16
25
Area Covered under

Soil Conservation
(%)
Farmers with Microirrigation Facility

(No)
12
14
4
10
0
0
<1
<1
The issue of soil erosion is quite common in the state especially hilly terrain. As mentioned in
the table, around 30% of the cultivated area affected by severity of soil erosion in high hills
which is followed by 29% in mid hills and 16% in foot hills. According to the farmers nearly 14%
of the eroded land in mid hills has been reclaimed through soil & moisture conservation
interventions carried out under various watershed programmes followed by 12% in high hills
and 2.5% in foot hills. Watershed programs are mainly implemented by the Watershed
Management Directorate in the state. The directorate focuses on degraded and rainfed areas of
the state through integrated management of natural resources on participatory basis to achieve
ecological balanced, income enhancement through increased livelihood opportunities, poverty
alleviation welfare of vulnerable groups including women and landless, equity in benefit sharing
and institutional strengthening through capacity building. The watershed development
programs are funded through Central Government schemes under Integrated Watershed
Management Programmes (IWMP) along with external donors like the World Bank and IFAD.
2.4.3. Crop Yield
The data of crop yield has been presented as per the blocks due to variation of yield in different
villages covered under the study. In addition to various reasons with regard to yield variation,
irrigation is a major factor relating to subsistence farming in the villages of high and mid hills
where there is no or limited irrigation facilities whereas and substantial yield in the irrigated
areas where impact of green revolution has been practiced.
Page | 37
Major crops grown during monsoon (Kharif) season include paddy, soybean, maize, ginger and
madua (minor millet) in different zones covered under the study. Most of the farmers in the
study villages do not have surplus food grains such as paddy, maize and madua. Those who
have surplus sell their produces to the fellow villagers who lack food grain sufficiency. The
commercial crops like ginger and soybean is marketed in Haldwani mandi in Kumayun regions
whereas the same is marketed in Dehradoon and Ramnagar mandi in Garhwal regions. Most of
the farmers who lack irrigation grow crops organically by default or apply small quantity of
chemical fertilizer. With regard to agricultural inputs farmers use their own produces as seed.
Agriculture and horticulture departments also provide seed to the farmers through their service
centers. Hybrid seeds are mainly purchased from Haldwani, Dehraddon and Ramnagar.
Chemical fertilizer is purchased from local depots of the cooperative societies and local retailers
(General stores having fertilizer as well).
As shown in the table, an average yield of paddy during monsoon season is 11.9 qt/ha varying
from 2.5 q/ha in Bin to 22.5 q/ha in Vikas Nagar. Soybean is harvested at an average yield of 8.8
q/ha ranging from 4 q/ha in Bin to 15 q/ha in Bheemtal. Average yield of ginger ranges
between 45 and 60 q/ha in the studied blocks. Madua is harvested at a rate of 6.8 q/ha with a
maximum yield of 11.5 q/ha in Dhauladevi block whereas black gram yields between 3.5 to 6.2
q/ha across the blocks. Average yield of paddy and soybean in the study area is nearly two-third
as compared to the state averages of 17.6 and 14.1 q/ha respectively whereas the same is bit
higher in case of maize. The average yield of madua and black gram is nearly half of the state
averages of 14.9 and 8.1 q/ha respectively.
Table-14: Yield of Major Monsoon Crops
Location
Paddy
Soybean
Maize
Ginger
Madua
Black gram
(Qt/ha)
2.5
14.6
8.5
11.2
22.5
11.9
17.6
(Qt/ha)
4.5
13.5
15.4
18.3
12.8
11.8
(Qt/ha)
55
45
60
53
(Qt/ha)
4.0
10.0
11.5
6.5
5.6
4.8
6.8
14.9
(Qt/ha)
3.5
4.8
4.5
6.2
4.8
8.1
Bin
Bhatwadi
Dhauladevi
Chamba
Bheemtal
Vikas nagar
Average
State Average
Page | 38
(Qt/ha)
4.0
7.5
12.6
5.0
15.0
8.8
14.1
Major crops grown during winter season (Rabi) included wheat, barley, peas and lentil. As
mentioned above most of the farmers in the study villages sell their food grain produces to the
needy fellow villagers locally. Similar arrangements exist for rabi crops as well with regard to
organic farming and agricultural inputs. The commercial crops like peas is marketed in Haldwani
mandi in Kumayun regions whereas the same is marketed in Dehradoon and Ramnagar mandi
in Garhwal regions.
As per the figures available in the following table, an average yield of wheat is around 11.8
qt/ha which ranges from 4.5 q/ha in Bin to 18.5 q/ha in Vikas Nagar block. Barley is harvested at
an average rate of 8.4 q/ha ranging between 5.6 q/ha in Bin and 11 q/ha in Vikas Nagar block.
Peas crop is harvested with an average yield of 30 q/ha varying between 6.9 q/ha in Bin and
47.5 q/ha in Vikas Nagar. An average yield of lentil in the study area is 4.7 q/ha varying from 2.5
q/ha in Bin to 5.8 q/ha in Bheemtal.
Average yield of lentil in the study area is around 69% of the state average which is followed by
barley and peas with a figure of 67% each and wheat with a percentage of 58%.
Table-15: Yield of Major Winter Crops
Location
Wheat
Barley
(Qt/ha)
(Qt/ha)
Bin
4.5
5.6
Bhatwadi
12.0
Dhauladevi
7.5
8.0
Chamba
8.5
7.5
Bheemtal
16.5
10.5
Vikas nagar
18.5
11.0
Average
11.3
8.4
State Average
19.5
12.6
Peas
(Qt/ha)
6.9
14.8
22.5
43.0
45.0
47.5
30.0
45.0
Lentil
(Qt/ha)
2.5
5.0
5.5
4.5
5.8
4.7
6.9
Beans, potato, peas, cauliflower and capsicum are the main crops grown during summer
season. Beans crop is harvested in foot hills at a rate of 30-75 q/ha whereas cauliflower and
capsicum are harvested in mid hills at a rate of 75 and 35 q/ha. Potato crop is harvested at a
rate of 50 q/ha only in Bhatwadi and Chamba blocks whereas peas is grown in Chamba in mid
hills and Bheemtal in foot hills and is harvested at a rate of 50 q/ha.
Page | 39
Table-16: Yield of Major Summer Crops

Location
Beans
Potato
(Qt/ha)
(Qt/ha)
Bin
Bhatwadi
50
Dhauladevi
Chamba
50
Bheemtal
30-65
Vikas nagar
Average
45.5
50
Peas
(Qt/ha)
50
50
50
Cauliflower
(Qt/ha)
75
-
Capsicum
(Qt/ha)
25-45
-
75
35
Based on the community analysis across the study, lack of irrigation is one of the major factors
responsible for low agricultural productivity (22%) which is followed by damage of crops by wild
animals including bear, monkey, rabbits and others (18%), unfertile cultivable land (16%),
access to quality seeds (10%), natural calamities including rainfall and snowfall (9%), lack of
information & technology with regard to production enhancement and marketing (8%), small &
fragmented land holding pattern (5) and low interest in agriculture due to low return (4%). In
addition, the other factors responsible for low agricultural productivity and production are
related to inadequate application of chemical fertilizer, lack of seed replacement, insect & pest
attack, reduced quantity of farm yard manure (FYM), crop marketing, etc.
2.4.4. Crop Rotations
Major crop rotation practices followed in the study area include as below.
Irrigated land
Wheat -paddy-wheat-paddy
Wheat-maize-potato-maize-potato
Wheat-paddy-potato-maize-potato
Potato-maize-potato-wheat-paddy
Barley-maize-paddy-barley-maize-barley
Lentil-maize-lentil-maize
Mustard-mandua-mustard-mandua
Potato-paddy-lentil-maize
Unirrigated land
Fallow-paddy-wheat-mandua
Page | 40
Wheat-mandua-fallow-paddy-wheat
Wheat-mandua-lentil-fallow
Barley-mandua-barley-mandua
Fallow-mandua-barley-mandua
Fallow-paddy-wheat-mandua-fallow-bhatt
Wheat-mandua/bhatt/urad-fallow-potato-wheat
In recent time though, vegetables have become an important part of crop pattern due to
increased level of awareness, increased irrigation, affordability of the farmers to invest in
agriculture, etc. Some of the prevalent crop rotations in the vegetable growing areas are as
follows:
Peas-beans/lady finger/cucumber-paddy
Wheat-cauliflower-potato
Peas-cauliflower/maize-paddy
Peas- vegetables (cauliflower, French beans)-paddy
Fallow- tomato-paddy/fallow
Potato-beans/cauliflower/tomato-paddy
Fallow-cabbage-chari/soybean-wheat/barley/peas
2.4.5. Alternative Farming Practices
Uttarakhand has been declared as organic state. Subsequently, the state Government formed
Uttarakhadn Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) with a view to promote organic farming in the
state. Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board came in to existence on 19 May 2003. The board
was registered under the societies registration act, 1860 and is acting as the nodal agency of
the state to enhance organic activities in agriculture and allied sectors like Horticulture,
Medicinal Aromatic Plants & Herbs and animal husbandry through out the state. On-going
programs, many of which are funded externally presently provide the source for human
resource for the technical and marketing activities. One of the largest programs in the Board is
being funded by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai by the name of Centre for Organic Farming
(COF). The role of the Board in the promotion of Organic Farming in the state is assisted by
articles of association which describes the UOCB as a promoting and facilitating organization.
Conventionally the farmers in hills especially in high hills do not apply chemical fertilizers for
growing crops due to limited awareness, soil moisture stress and high cost of fertilizer. Most of
these farmers have been applying farm yard manure (FYM) at a rate of 2-4 quintals/ha and by
default they are growing organic food by default. UOCB has been involved farmers' awareness
Page | 41
building, enhancing organic farming, carrying out certification process through specialized
agencies and supporting marketing of the organic produces in the state. The initiative has been
able to motivate the farmers to follow organic farming.
Farmers understanding on organic farming is based on no application of chemical fertilizer or
chemical pesticide/insecticide. Many of the farmers who do not have access to irrigation and
grow food grains practice organic farming by default. However, they do not have gone through
certification process. As presented in the following table, around 5.3% of the cultivated land in
foot hills has been covered under organic farming which is followed by 2.3% and 2.3%
respectively in mid and high hills. The area covered under protected cultivation adopting
technologies including poly-houses/greenhouses is insignificant across studied villages.
Table-17: Organic Cultivation
Location
Organic Cultivation
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
2.2
2.3
5.3
3.2
2.4.6. Chemical Fertilizer

Urea and Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) are two main chemical fertilizers applied in
agriculture to maintain soil fertility. The figures presented in the following tables indicate
quantity of fertilizer applied to the major crops grown in the study area. Farmers normally do
not apply chemical fertilizer in other crops. The figure zero' indicates no crop grown in the
studied zone or no application of chemical fertilizer in the zone.
On an average urea is applied at a rate of 50 kg per hectare in paddy varying from 35 kg in high
hills to 75 kg in foot hills whereas the crop is not grown in the studied villages of mid hills.
Around 53 kg of urea is applied for wheat cultivation in 1 hectare varying from 45 kg in high hills
to 60 kg in foot hills. In case of barley urea dose varies from 25 kg/ha in high hills to 40 kg/ha in
foot hills. The range of urea application for growing potato is between 25-50kg/ha whereas the
same is around 25kg/ha in the remaining crops. Figures indicate an increasing trend of urea
application from high hills to foot hills.
Page | 42
Table-18: Urea Application Rate

Location
Paddy
Wheat
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
Barley
Chilly
(Kg/ha)
(Kg/ha)
(Kg/ha)
(Kg/ha)
35
0
75
50
45
55
60
53
25
30
40
32
0
0
25
25
Peas
Mustard Cauliflow Potato

er
(Kg/ha) (Kg/ha) (Kg/ha) (Kg/ha)
0
25
25
25
25
25
0
25
0
25
0
25
25
50
0
38
Similarly quantity of DAP applied for paddy cultivation is 35kg/ha in high hills whereas the same
is 50kg/ha in foot hills. DAP is applied for wheat cultivation at a rate varying from 20kg/ha in
high hills to 50kg/ha in foot hills. DAP rate for raising barley and mustard is 25kg/ha each
whereas the same is 100kg/ha for cauliflower cultivation. DAP dose in potato crop is given at a
rate varying from 40kg/ha in high hills to 75kg/ha in mid hills whereas the crop is non-existent
in the studied villages.
Table-19: DAP Application Rate
Location
Paddy
Wheat
(Kg/ha)
(Kg/ha)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Average
35
0
50
42
20
25
50
32
Barley
(Kg/ha)
Mustard
(Kg/ha)
Cauliflower
(Kg/ha)
Potato
(Kg/ha)
0
0
25
25
25
0
0
25
0
100
0
100
40
75
0
38
The overall quantity applied by the farmers in study area is nearly less than 50% of the
recommended quantity for urea and DAP in different crops due to various reasons including
limited knowledge, affordability, availability, soil-moisture stress, etc.
2.4.7. Plant Protection
Overall Kurmula (white grub ), Katuwa, Fali Bhedak (Fruit Borer), Kand ko khandewala Keeda
(Stem Borer), Leaf Folder, Rice Hispa , Parnjaalak, Aara Makhi are reported to be the main pests
that affect a wide range of crop across all the blocks. Overall Jad sadan (Root Rot), Uktha Rog
(by Sunlight), Tana Sadan (Stem Rot), fal Sadan (Fruit Rot) are the main diseases that affect a
wide range of crops. Farmers normally use insecticide and pesticide in vegetable cultivation.
Page | 43
2.4.8. Farm Mechanization

Small and staggered land holding is a constraint in promotion of farm mechanization in hilly
terrain of the state. In spite of one of the best agricultural universities of India at Pantnagar,
farmer friendly technologies have not been
developed and/or taken to the farmers on
farm mechanization. Women being the
backbone of various farm operations in hill
suffer more in lack of farmer friendly
equipments. Recently the focus of
Government has increased to provide
subsidized farm tillers (Small tractors) to the
progressive farmers. However, results are
yet to be observed o increased level of farm
mechanization with a view to enhance
productivity and to reduce women drudgery
in the state.
2.4.9. Marketing
Most of the farmers in the study villages do not have surplus food grains such as paddy, maize
and madua. Those who have surplus sell their produces to the fellow villagers who lack food
grain sufficiency. The commercial crops like ginger, vegetables, soybean etc. are marketed in
Haldwani mandi in Kumayun regions whereas the same is marketed in Dehradoon and
Ramnagar mandi in Garhwal regions. Most
.
2.4.10. Processing
The concept of crop processing on commercial scale is non-existent in the study area, However,
some of the farmers in foot hills use paddy hullers.
2.4.11. Income
Based on an informal interaction with farmers, total average annual income of the villagers
varies from 40,000/ to 80,000/ of which nearly 15% comes from agriculture whereas the same
is less than 10% from animal husbandry. The remaining income is through various other sources
including labour, pension, small business, etc.
Page | 44
2.5.
LIVESTOCK
Major areas covered under livestock during study include livestock pattern, milk production,
breed improvement, feed and fodder, animal health care, shelter, poultry and fisheries. The
detailed observation and analysis of the study is presented below.
2.5.1. Livestock Pattern
The local breed of cow, goat, hen, sheep and cold water fish are the traditional livestock in the
hilly terrain of the state. Sheep and cold water fish are commonly found in upper reaches. Cow
has traditionally been reared for production of bullock power used in agriculture and to meet
out the basic need of milk. Goat is primarily reared for meat purpose and sheep for meat and
wool. However, the hilly terrain has always been dependent on planes to meet out their basic
needs of milk and meat. The change has happened during the last decades especially after
formation of Uttarakhand state with regard to rearing of animals of improved breeds including
cow and buffalo.
As indicated in the table below, the livestock
population in the study area included 2963
cows, 1638 buffalo and 3044 goats whereas
the sheep population is almost insignificant.
Percent of cow population is the highest with
a figure of 35% in foot hills which is followed
by 34% in mid hills and 31% in high hills. The
percent of local cows is 80%, 60% and 55% in
mid, foot and high hills respectively. Above
three-fourth of buffalo population is in foot
hills which is followed by 18% in mid and 4% in high hills. Goat population is the highest in foot
hills with a figure of 49% which is followed by 31% in high and 20% in mid hills.
Buffalo breed is local in high hills and Dhauladevi block of mid hills whereas the same is a mix of
local and Murra in Chamba block of mid hills and across the blocks of foot hills. Goat is primarily
of local breed across the regions. Average holding of animals is around 2-3 across the blocks
Page | 45
Table-20: Livestock Pattern

Location
Cows
Total
(%)
High Hills
31
Mid Hills
34
Foot Hills
35
Local
(%)
55
80
60
Buffalo
Goat
(%)
4
18
78
(%)
31
20
49
2.5.2. Milk Production

Primarily cow and buffalo are main animals reared for milk production whereas goat is reared
for meat purpose. Beef is promoted in the state on cultural and religious grounds. Average milk
yield of local cow is 2-3 liters/day whereas the yield of cross bread cows ranges 5-8 liters in high
hills, 6-9 liters in mid hills and 7-10 liters in foot hills respectively. Local buffalo yields milk at a
rate of 4-6 liter/day in high and mid hills whereas the same yield 5-7 liters in foot hills. Milk
yield of Murra buffalo is 6-9 liters per day in mid hills whereas the same is 6-10 liters in foot
hills.
Table-21: Milk Yield
Location
Cows
Local
Crossbred
(Liter)
(Liter)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
2-3
2-3
2-3
5-8
6-9
7-10
Buffalo
Local
(Liter)
Murra
(Liter)
4-6
4-6
5-7
0
6-9
6-10
As per the details provided in the table below milk production per village during monsoon
season is the highest in foot hills with a figure of 922 liter which is reduced to 26% in mid and
15% in high hills. Similarly the milk production is reduced to nearly 25% and 15% in mid and
high hills during winter and summer seasons as well. Milk production is also reduced during
winter and summer as compared monsoon by 14-18% and 16-22% respectively due to reduced
availability of quality fodder.
Page | 46
Table-22: Milk Collection per Village

Location
Monsoon
(Liter)
As presented in the
following table, around
40%
of
the
milk
production in the study
High Hills
140
120
115
area is from crossbred
Mid Hills
240
195
188
cows which is followed by
Foot Hills
922
798
775
buffalo (26%) and local
cow (14%). Maximum contribution of milk from local cow is 30% in Bin block which is followed
by 20 each in Dhauladevi and Vikas Nagar blocks. The contribution to milk production from local
cow is up to 15% in the remaining blocks. Crossbred cows contribute up to 70% in Bin block
which is followed by 60% in Bheemtal block. The contribution ranges 40-60% in the remaining
blocks. Buffalo milk contribute in the range of 25% in Bheemtal to 50% in Chamba blocks
Winter
(Liter)
Summer
(Liter)
Table-23: Contribution to Milk Production by Different Animals

Block
Local Cow
Crossbred Cow Buffalo
(%)
(%)
(%)
Bin
Bhatwadi
Dhaula Devi
Chamba
Bheemtal
Vikash Nagar
Average
30
10
20
10
15
20
14
70
50
50
40
60
50
40
0
40
30
50
25
30
26
As per the details available in the following table, nearly 53% of the milk produced in the
villages is supplied to dairy ranging 60-70% in Bin, Chamba, Bheemtal and Bheemtal blocks
which is followed by 40% in Dhauladevi. The milk supply to dairy in Bhatwadi block is only 10%
of the total production due limited production.
Page | 47
Table-24: Percent of milk Marketing

Block
% Milk Marketing
Bin
Bhatwari
Dhauladevi
Chamba
Bheemtal
Vikash Nagar
Average
70
10
40
60
70
70
53
The villagers are paid a milk rate on the basis of fat percent by Anchal dairy which is around Rs.
20-25/liter in high hills, Rs. 22-28/liter in mid hills and Rs. 25-35/liter in foot hills. As indicated in
the table, selling price of is related to the size of the city i.e. demand and hence the milk rates
are higher in Bheemtal, Chamba and Vikasnagar. Anchal is a state run cooperative dairy
federation which is the main agency involved in purchasing milk from the farmers. Anchal is
also involved in milk production enhancement through providing loan to purchase milch
animals (Milk producing animals), promotion of fodder development, insurance of milch
animals, sharing bonus to the dairy cooperative members, etc. However, price paid to the
farmers, on the basis of fat percent, is quite low as compared the prevailing of Rs. 50-60/liter
rate in district headquarters. Farmers as individuals have limited options to sell milk in the open
market as they have to walk a long distance to sell out 1-2 liter of milk.
Table-25: Milk Selling Price
Block
Rs. /Liter
Bin
Bhatwadi
Dhauladevi
Chamba
Bheemtal
Vikash Nagar
Average
22
20
22
30
30
45
28
Analysis of community perceptions indicate inadequacy of green fodder round the year is one
of the major reasons for low milk yield (30%) which is followed by non-existence of improved
breed (18%), small size of livestock holding (15%), sub-standard animal rearing & feeding
Page | 48
practices (15%), marginal profitability through livestock rearing (8%), inadequate number of
buffalo (7%) and others including unavailability of quality feed, low rate of milk, etc.
2.5.3. Fodder and Feed
Open grazing has been a traditional practice in the hilly terrain of the state which has reduced
drastically during the last decades due to initiatives taken by the forest department along with
the NGOs across the state. Joint Forest Management (JFM) is directed towards facilitating the
increase in productivity of hitherto degraded forests through active involvement of local
communities in project formulation, implementation, harvesting, benefit sharing, marketing
and monitoring. Uttarakhand is a newly created state with 63 per cent of its land covered by
various kind of forest. The state adopted JFM policy passed by U.P. Government in 1997 to
manage its rich forest resource with active participation of local farmers and other forest users.
JFM scheme of the forest department played a crucial role in creating awareness in the
community on regulatory grazing, community participation in forest management, activation of
Van Panchayats, development of community forestlands with a focus on fodder promotion, etc.
The initiatives lead to recognition of the concept by the community and the concept of stall
feeding started gradually.
However, villagers' dependency on forest to meet out their fodder needs is still continuing in
the state. As per the details available in following table, around 23% of fodder needs in 6
villages are met through open grazing in high hills whereas the same is not practiced in
remaining 2 villages. Similarly fodder needs in mid hills (14%) and foot hills (12%) are met
through open grazing however the practice is no more in existence in 3 villages of mid hills and
5 villages of foot hills.
Around 54% of the villagers face crises of fodder deficiency in foot hills whereas the percentage
of such farmers is 61% each in mid and high hills.
Table-26: Open Grazing and Fodder deficiency.
Location
Open Grazing
Fodder deficiency
(%)
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Page | 49
23
14
12
61
61
54
Another reason to switch over to stall feeding is related to community awareness on

replacement of local breed of the milch animals to increase milk production. Improvement of
breed of the existing livestock along with inclusion of cows and buffalos of improved breeds
motivated the farmers to go for partial stall feeding. However, the stall feeding practice
followed by the farmers is of sub-standard grade. Women are primarily involved in animal
rearing in the state. Fodder is collected from private, common and forestlands and thrown
before animals without chopping the same. Unconsumed fodder is mixed with urine and dung
and hence around 30% of the fodder is wasted leading to additional work load to women. In
addition, feeding animals without chopping the fodder is not useful for their health. Women
also work hard to fetch drinking water, sometimes from a longer distance, to the livestock.
Many a times, they are away from home for collecting fodder, working on their agricultural
fields and other purposes and find it difficult to ensure availability of drinking water to their
animals.
Fodder availability is one of the crucial factors in the study area. Around 60% of the villagers
purchase fodder from the planes for a period varying from 6 to 8 months. For instance, the cost
of a wheat straw bundle is Rs. 24/ for the farmers in Bin block of Pithoragarh district. A cow of
improved breed consumes around 4-5 bundles per day costing around Rs. 100-120/. Farmer
gets an average milk yield of 5 liter per day which is sold out @ Rs. 25/liter lading to around Rs.
125/ provided the whole milk is sold out. No other input costs are involved in this. This leads to
frustration to the community as there are no or little returns against the input cost. Further this
discourages the villagers to provide quality feed to the milch animals. According to the
veterinary officers interacted in the study area, animals are normally provided with local and
half of the required feed.
2.5.4. Breed Improvement
As mentioned earlier the concept of breed improvement has established in Uttarakhand
especially after formation of the state. The state is highly depended on plains to meet outs its
milk need. Bhartiya Agro Industries
Foundation (BAIF), specialized NGO
in artificial insemination is working
closely with the state government
to promote breed improvement.
BAIF is promoting crossing of local
cows with Sahiwal, Red Sindhi,
Jarshi-50 and Jarsi-100 with a focus
on Jarsi-100 whereas the demand
Page | 50
is for Sindhi and Sahiwal. Major reasons for the community preferences include shape & size of
the foreign breed and adaptability in the local conditions. Crossbred calves from Jarsi breed are
no more useful for agriculture work. Murra breed of Haryana is promoted to cross with the
local buffalos.
In addition, some of the young veterinary officers in the department are showing higher
enthusiasm to promote cross breeding in their respective working areas. A local veterinary
officer in Pithoragarh has shown remarkable results with regard to breed improvement.
2.5.5. Shelter
The problem of shelter is being recognized by the community with increase in adoption of
crossbred animals as they are more susceptible to cold related diseases like fever and thanela
(Swelling in Milking Part). Farmers have limited space to accommodate many livestock during
winter and rainy seasons causing transfer of parasites along with fungal and infection related
diseases . The construction of shed is quite expensive in the hills.
2.5.6. Health Care
Animal health care is equally a big problem as perceived by the villagers. According to the
government officials the service centers are provided in a 10 km range to cover around 6,000
animals. The villagers in the study area have to walk 2-14 km to access to the animal health care
services at hospitals or service centers.
Table-27: Distance to Access to Health Care Services
Location
Distance Hospital
Distance Service center
(Km)
(Km)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Page | 51
2-14
3-14
2-16
2-14
3-14
1.5-8
Community analysis indicates that around 27% of the reasons to access to the animal health
care services are related distance which is followed by unavailability of the veterinary officer on
requirement and non-existence of medicine in service center (26%), charging for artificial
insemination and check up (17%), sub-standard quality of semen and medicines (10%), etc.
2.5.7. Poultry
In most of the cases the villagers have the concept of backyard poultry. As per block level data
on an average around 22% of the families in foot hills keep nearly 25 chicks which is followed by
10% of the families in mid and high hills keeping 25 and 55 birds respectively. A maximum
number of birds (80) are maintained in Bhatwadi which is followed by 40 in Bheemtal and 30 in
Bin blocks. The number of birds is less than 15 in remaining blocks. Poultry breeds include
pahadi (Local from hills)), desi (From Plains) and Coiler. Average price of a chick is around Rs.
250/.
Table-28: Poultry
Location
Families
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
10
10
22
Average holding
Number
55
25
25
2.5.8. Fishery
Fishery is an insignificant alternate option of livelihoods in the study villages. However, there
seems to be huge potential in some of the pockets where water availability is there. According
to Dr. AK Singh (Director: ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research-Bheemtal)
promotion of ornamental and coldwater fisheries especially in upper reaches where water
temperature is up to 16-17 degree is a good alternative for promotion of rural livelihoods. The
directorate is involved in promotion of cluster approach for fish production in integration with
other sectors including horticulture and irrigation on 1 acre of pond. The directorate has
established polytech centers in Almora and Champawat districts. The sale value of trout fish is
around Rs. 400-500/kg. This is one of the potential areas for promoting livelihoods where water
availability is there.
Page | 52
2.6.
FOREST
Forest diversity is the main source of livelihood of the people living in the Uttaranchal in terms
of fodder, fuel wood, timber, herbal medicines, leaf litter and others used as manure in
agriculture, construction material, industrial
raw materials, etc. Non-timber forest products
include gums, resins, dyes, fibers, medicine,
oil, honey, spices and several other produces.
Oaks and Chirpine are the major forest
forming tree species in this region. These
forest species are mixed with other broad
leaved and coniferous trees. The forests are
exploited variously for different resources and
consequently the vegetation cover is
decreasing. These disturbances are changing
the species richness and diversity, which
influences the soil and environmental conditions. Thus, the conservation and management of
the forests will be important for the sustainability of human and land. Disturbances and climatic
change will alter the species composition of these forests, which may shift socio-economic and
ecological conditions of the region.
2.6.1. Forest Degradation
As per the details provided in the table below nearly 60% of Van Panchayats are active in high
hills where as the percentage is around 40 in case of mid and foot hills. Strengthening Van
Panchayats on the principles of joint forest management is one of the areas with regard to
forest conservation and management. The percent degradation of forest is perceived by the
community around 27% in high hills whereas the same is 48% in mid hills and 28% in foot hills.
The forest department is However, there is another perception within the community that
there has been no change in the forest cover as such during last 2-3 decades only change that
has happened is domination of chirpine during last 2 decades. In-fact resin tapping is one of the
most important activities of the Forest Department as Uttarakhand has substantial area under
Chirpine which exudes resin. Resin extraction not only earns revenue for the State, it also
provides employment to a large number of people in the hills. However, chirpine trees have
reduced the process of natural regeneration of other species leading to destroying forest biodiversity. Even the fodder grasses have disappeared as no vegetation survives near chirpine
tree. Also the chirpine tree leaves are responsible for forest fire as well. Some of the
respondents call it as forest degradation as well. Initiatives have been taken to make the
Page | 53
charcoal of chirpine leaves. Opinions also include exploring possibility for making compost for
promotion of organic farming. Certainly, there is potential area for action research to make the
best use of chirpine leaves through environment friendly action research
Table-29: Forest Management
Location
Active Van panchayat
(%)
High Hills
Mid Hills
Foot Hills
Forest degradation
(%)
60
10
10
27
48
28
The dependency that the local community has on the forest has reduced for the last couple of
years due to number of reasons including reduced open grazing, reduced number of livestock
holding due to migration, increased access to cooking gas decreasing fuel wood need, use of
iron in building construction works, etc. However, there is forest degradation in some of the
villages due to various reasons. As per analysis of the responses of the community and the
forest officials, illegal cutting of trees is the major reason (25%) which is followed by forest fire
(15%), domination of chirpine trees leading to decreased regeneration (10%), increased human
and livestock pressure on forest (8%) and inadequate plantation of trees to maintain forest
biodiversity (7%). The other factors responsible for forest degradation include lack of
awareness about environment, snow fall, inefficient Van panchayat system, natural calamity,
open grazing, use of wood in construction of link road, etc.
2.6.2. Impact of Forest Degradation on Livelihoods
Forest degradation in any form has impacted the livelihoods of the local communities in one
way or the other. Around 38% of the responses claim that domination of chirpine trees has lead
to reduced fodder availability due to disappearance of local grasses, shrubs and trees used as
fodder and therefore affecting livestock population which has been one of the income sources
for the community. Decreased fodder availability is followed by increased cost on cooking gas
(24%) as the villagers used to depend for fuel wood on forest, decreased percent of trees useful
for income generation such as ringal (10%), decreased percent of vegetation used as food for
wild life leading to their dependency on agriculture (9%), reduced availability of honey (5%),
reduced availability of wood used for agricultural implements (4%) and many others which
contribute to impact on livelihoods of the local community.
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2.6.3. Initiatives for Forest Regeneration

Forest conservation and regeneration is one of the focus areas of forest department.Various
initiatives are being taken for conservation and regeneration of the forest at Government and
community level both. Van Panchayat is a community institution which is supported by the
forest department for carrying out field level interventions under the guidance of the frontline
officials of the department. Some of the initiatives as perceived by the community
representatives include plantation activities by Van Panchayats (43%), villagers' involvement in
fire fighting (18%), control on illegal felling of trees (12%), deployment of chokidar (9%),
regulated grazing (7%), villagers' participation forest management (5%), increased community
awareness on forest conservation and management, etc.
2.6.4. Potential Forest Based Livelihood
Forest is a big source for income generation activities for the local people. Some of the
prioritized enterprises that could be promoted in the area are included as below.
Increased fodder availability may attract the villagers to meet out their fodder needs and
rearing of additional animals leading to increased production and income.
Increased bio-diversity conservation increase the dependency of wild animals on forests

reducing damage of crops leading to increased agricultural production and income.
Increased accessibility to minor forest produces can increase income of the villagers.
Bee Keeping is one of the options due availability of flowers in the forest areas round the
year
Increased bio-diversity can increase opportunities for establishing micro-enterprises such as
basket making from bamboo & ringal
USING Chirpine leaves (Pual) for coal making.
Income through carbon credit
Page | 55
2.7.
ENVIRONMENT
2.7.1. Environmental Issues

Major issues concerning the environment are due to lack of awareness requiring strong
strategies on effective /public relations to reduce the impact. Some of the major concerns with
regard environment in Uttarakhand are included as below.
Forest fires: Hundreds of hectares of forests are affected by forest fires during every
summer season leading to loss of natural bio-diversity along with human, livestock and
wildlife.
Non-biodegradable waste: Today, even remote hill villages have a Noodle Point' selling
packaged food, soft drinks and water in plastic bottles. A lot of this waste is carelessly
thrown in the area. If burnt, they release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
Water conservation: Given that some of India's most important rivers originate here, it is
ironic that water conservation remains a burning issue in Uttarakhand. A large number of
natural springs that dotted the hillside have been damaged due to the cutting of slopes for
road building or other unplanned activities. These have adversely affected the underground
water table at many places.
Forest protection: While Uttarakhand has largely maintained its forest cover and even
shown a modest increase in that cover, the protection of forests remains a constant
challenge. Encroachments, illegal tree felling and unregulated collection of forest products
are also responsible for damage to forests. Many wildlife corridors have been choked due to
unplanned development and this also contributes to increased human-wildlife conflict.
Illegal wildlife trade: Illegal products made of fur, bones, glands, tusks, feathers etc of
endangered species, are offered to unsuspecting buyers as souvenirs and local produce.
Open grazing: traditionally people have been dependent on forest for their basic needs
including fuel wood, fodder and minor forest produces. Open grazing has been practiced
across the state causing damage to the forest.
Page | 56
As per the analysis of responses from the community and forest officials forest fire is the major
threat to the environment (20%) which not only destroys bio-diversity and retards the process
of natural regeneration in the forest but also causes smoke in the environment.
Mismanagement of garbage around the villages and cities is another important reason (15%)
causing threat to the environment which is followed by excessive soil erosion (13%), damage of
new plantation by the wild animals (10%), open defecation (8%), throwing waste material in the
open by tourists (7%), leaving bodies of dead animals in the open (5%), air pollution created by
transport vehicles (5%), increasing human and livestock pressure on forest (4%), pollution of
drinking water (3%) and others including air pollution due to construction activities,
2.7.2. Dealing with Environmental Issues
The perceptions of community to deal with environmental issues include controlling the forest
fire (21%), increasing vegetative cover throw new plantation (19%), safe disposal of village
garbage (16%), construction and use of toilets (14%), burying the dead animals (6%), safe
disposal of waste water through proper drainage (5%), promoting coal making using pine leaves
(3%) and others including mass awareness building at local level, social fencing, creating
awareness among tourists,
2.7.3. Climate Change and Carbon Trading
Based on decades of research by the scientific community, there is now wide recognition that
emissions of greenhouse gases are changing the climate in the Himalayan region and that the
future impact from such changes will be harmful, especially to the rural population of
Uttarakhand. Some of the facts extracted from secondary source indicate the impact of climate
change on Himalayas is as below.
Warming in Himalayas is happening at an unprecedented rate, higher than the global

average of 0.74C over the last 100 years at least 2 -3 times higher than global averages.
Progressively higher warming with higher altitude is a phenomenon prevalent over the
whole greater Himalayan region.
There is increasing perception and documentation that precipitation is changing, becoming

more erratic and intense. In many areas, a greater proportion of total precipitation appears
to be falling as rain than before. As a result, snowmelt begins earlier and winter is shorter;
this affects river regimes, natural hazards, water supplies, and people's livelihoods and
infrastructure.
Page | 57
As compared to global averages, Himalyan glaciers are receding at a rapid rate. Retreat in
glaciers can destabilize surrounding slopes and may give rise to catastrophic landslides
which can dam streams and sometimes lead to outbreak floods. Excessive melt waters,
often in combination with liquid precipitation, may trigger flash floods or debris flows.
In the eastern and central Himalayas, glacial melt associated with climate change, has led to
the formation of glacial lakes behind terminal moraines. Many of these high-altitude lakes
are potentially dangerous. The moraine dams are comparatively weak and can breach
suddenly, leading to the discharge of huge volumes of water and debris.
2.7.4. Uttarakhand State Action Plan for Climate Change:

Uttarakhand has submitted a State Action Plan for Climate change in June 2012, with the help
of UNDP. Some of the issues related to action plan include;
Review of network of hydrological observation stations
Review of the network of automatic weather stations and automated rain gauge stations
Collection of necessary additional hydro-meteorological and hydrological data for proper

assessment of impact of climate change in Himalayan region including other improvements
required in hydrometric networks to appropriately address the issues related to the climate
change. Such data will include:
Hydrological and hydro-meteorological data in low rainfall areas
Hydrological and hydro-meteorological data above permanent snowline, glaciated
areas, seasonal snow areas in Himalayan region
Improved network for collection of evaporation and rain gauge data using automated
sensors
Establishment/strengthening of ground water monitoring and geohydrology networks
Collection of data about river morphology for monitoring erosion and carrying capacity, and
Surface and ground water quality data collection, etc.
Other initiatives include adoption/development of modern technology for measurement of

flow in hilly areas, development of water resources information system and reassessment of
basin wise water situation apart from projection of water resources availability as a result of
Page | 58
impact of climate change which would inter-alia include the likely changes in the characteristics
of water availability in time and space.
Other necessary studies to improve understanding of climate impacts to the sector will also be
carried out from time to time, and robust data mechanisms will be established. Currently,
Uttarakhand does not have a State Water Policy. As such, it will be a priority agenda for the
State to develop an appropriate policy framework, with explicit cognizance of climate
concerns."
2.7.5. Carbon Credit
Many of the Hydropower projects in the
Himalayas, including Uttarakhand have
applied for carbon credits under the
UNFCCC's Clean Development Mechanism.
Under this, clean energy projects in
developing countries get millions of rupees
as incentives from developed world, which
in turn get carbon offset credits, which are
a license to pollute further. The entire
system, put in place after the Kyoto
Protocol is inherently flawed due to
absence of due attention impact of
projects on adaptation of local people, to local voices and due to market based approach. Many
destructive hydropower projects in Uttarakhand are being certified as clean projects, making a
mockery of climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
Page | 59
2.8.
LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES
2.8.1. Livelihood Focus

The GoI established the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to implement the new
strategy of poverty alleviation woven around community based institutions. The Mission's
primary objective is to reduce poverty by promoting diversified and gainful self-employment
and wage employment opportunities for sustainable increase in incomes. The Mission works in
conjunction with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) of Ministry Of Rural development and primarily focuses on creating selfemployment and wage/job employment opportunities for the rural poor. Focus of the schemes
is on;
Mobilizing all rural, poor households into effective self-help groups (SHGs) and their
federations
Enhancing access of the rural poor to credit and other financial, technical and marketing
services
Building capacities and skills of the poor for gainful and sustainable livelihoods
Improving the delivery of social and economic support services to the poor
The state Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) is primarily responsible for implementation of the
scheme in Uttarakhand.
2.8.2 Major Challenges
The major challenges with regard to income generation activities are varied in nature in the
study area as below.
The community primarily gives priority to forest and agriculture & allied sectors based
micro-enterprises. Low and staggered volume of agricultural, livestock and forest produces
limits commercialization in form of micro-enterprises development.
Agriculture has been subsisting farming focusing on cereal crop production. Animal
husbandry has been based on cow rearing for producing bullocks for agriculture.
Horticulture has not been taken to the potential he state has due to its advantages of low
temperature.
Page | 60
Goat rearing back yard poultry have been practiced to meet out their meat consumption
leading to limited examples of micro-enterprises development with regard to poultry and
goats.
The concept of crop processing has a huge potential in the state however the same exists at
an infant stage in the state quite similar to the other areas in the country.
Villagers lack entrepreneurship in terms of attitude, aptitude and skills to enhance their
income through self-employment. Traditionally. Most of the villagers have been dependent
on money order economy and hence lack risk taking capacity.
There are very limited examples of sustainable models on micro-enterprises development.

Many of the initiatives taken by the government and non-government organization could
function till the external support remained with them. Most of them got collapsed after the
external support system.
Non-cooperative attitude of the government departments and the support agencies is one
of the main reasons discouraging youths to go for self-employment.
Financial institutions and banks present a major hurdle if the upcoming entrepreneurs want
to establish a business and many of them withdraw at the first stage itself.
Failure of many micro-enterprises due to low feasibility and viability discourages

entrepreneurs to take risk in establishing the micro-enterprises.
Marketing is a major problem due to low and staggered volume, high cost of transportation,
non-existent or inefficient marketing network, lack of branding, etc.
2.2.2. Potential Micro-enterprises

Some of the potential areas for micro-enterprises development in rural areas include as below.
Goat rearing
Poultry
Page | 61
Micro-dairy
Off-season vegetable cultivation
Protected cultivation
Tea cultivation
Agro-service center
Herbal/Ayurvedic crop cultivation
Floriculture
Organic farming
Bee keeping
Mushroom cultivation
Crop processing (Ginger, Malta, etc.)
Micro-cold storage
Eco-tourism
IT enabled services
Sheep wool based products
Many others
Page | 62
3.
3.1.
MAJOR GAPS AND KEY INTERVENTIONS
School Education
3.1.1. Major Gaps in Education
Low enrollment in Government schools is a major concern. Around 15-20% of the schools
have less than 10 students whereas nearly 15-30% schools have 10-20 students only. The
remaining schools have around 35-55 children per school.
There is a direct correlation between the children enrolled in Government schools and
poverty. Most of the parents who lack awareness, accessibility and affordability admit their
children to Government schools as they enjoy free books, uniform, meal along with
scholarship to SC/ST community.
The state policies, quality of education, school environment for teaching & learning, low
compatibility of teaching methodology and content to the market demand are some of the
factors for disinterest of parents to send their children to Government schools.
The teacher student ratio is 1:40 in most of the schools whereas the same should be 6:40.
There is only 1 teacher in around 15% of the schools especially in rural areas and around
60% of the schools have 1-2 teachers only. Most of the time teachers are involved in all kind
of census work and hence the schools with single teacher remain closed during this period
and also when s/he is on leave.
Schooling age is also one of the factors responsible for low enrollment in Government
schools. According to the Government norms the children are admitted to school at the age
of 5 years whereas the private schools admit at the age of 3. Therefore, most of the parents
do not wait for government schools and admit their kids to private schools.
The concept of School Management Committee (SMC) is not very effective as most of the
parents are from poor category with their own limitation to have a say in schools.
Average dropout rate is 9.1% at basic senior and 19% at intermediate levels which is higher
as against the state average of 3.98 and 4.61% respectively. Average dropout rate for girls is
12.2% and 24.6% at basic senior and intermediate level which is higher than overall dropout
rate due to poverty, disinterest of children to continue, employability, longer distance of
Page | 63
schools, etc. Additional reasons for dropout of girls include early marriage, involvements in
household chores, disinterest of parents, etc.
The teaching inputs with regard to Information Technology (IT) enabled education are
extremely basic in absence of professional teachers and curriculum designed by the
Government limiting aspirations of the children to learn more. Further dysfunctional
systems in around 30-40% of the schools limit the access of the children. The students
primarily access to the private coaching centers to enhance their skills.
The percent of non-users of toilets varies from 10-62% due to poor maintenance, lack of
water availability, toilets without door, toilets under lock & key by the teachers, etc.
The cost provision of Mid-Day Meal is Rs. 4.01/ in primary schools and Rs. 5.50/ in junior
schools which is perceived as very low to provide quality meal to the students.
3.1.2. Key Suggestions for Dealing with Identified Gaps
Focus needs to be laid on supplementing quality of education to the children enrolled in

Government schools in the identified areas as they belong to the poor category lacking
awareness, accessibility and affordability.
Coaching centers at village/cluster level needs to be promoted in the identified areas to

strengthen subject knowledge along with communication skills (English), computer skills
and personality development.
The concept of Anganwadi may be strengthened on pilot basis in the selected areas to
enroll children at the age of 3 years and equip them with required inputs to ensure
eligibility to reach the primary schools. Instead, local NGOs may also be involved for taking
up the responsibility.
The concept of School Management Committee (SMC) needs to be strengthened through

awareness building, capacitating and sharing responsibilities along with decision making.
The dropout rate of students especially girls after senior and intermediate levels needs to
be addressed through awareness building, job oriented skill development, information
sharing on various options related higher education, etc.
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Computer enabled education needs to be promoted as one of the subjects adequately

equipped with required physical and human resources in the selected area.
All the students including girls need to be accessible to the toilet facilities through separate
toilets for girls, awareness building on use & maintenance, equipping toilets with water
facilities, strict monitoring by teachers and SMCs, etc.
3.2.
Community Health
3.2.1. Major Gaps in Community Health
Major health related problems as shared by the villagers include backache and joint
problems (35%), respiratory problems (13%), anemia (10%), jaundice Problem (8%), high
blood pressure (7%), stomach problems (6%), kidney and lever stone (6%), etc.
Infant Mortality Rate of 45 and 40 in Chamba and Bhatwadi blocks in mid and high hills is
higher than the state average of 32 due to lack of awareness, premature delivery, infection,
malnutrition, inability to access to health care centers due to poverty, discrimination of girl
child in family, etc.
Excessive physical work by women during pregnancy, malnutrition, infection, low

hemoglobin, natural accidents on hilly tracks, inability to access to the hospitals, taking
services of untrained mid-wives for delivery facilitation, premature delivery, early marriage,
inadequate support of ANM and Asha workers, ignorance about health care, lack of
awareness, problem of anemia, high blood pressure, discrimination with women after giving
birth to girl child, lack of balance diet due to poverty are the main reasons responsible for
high MMR.
The distance is a major factor in the state to access to various services including health. The
villagers in the studied area have to travel from 3 to 15 Km to access the hospitals and/or
dispensaries in high hills whereas the facilities are available within a range of 20 km in mid
and foot hills.
Around 50-85% families lack toilet facilities whereas 75-90% families lack access to cooking
gas. Nearly 85-93% families also lack access to the facility of smokeless chulla.
Page | 65
Awareness building with regard to preventive measures needs to be followed up with

frequently health camps on various diseases prevailing in the identified area such as
backache and joint problems, respiratory problems, anemia, jaundice, high blood pressure,
stomach problems, kidney and lever stone, etc.
Infant Mortality Rate needs to be reduced in the selected areas through awareness building
of pregnant women along with their families on along with timely check up and preventive
measures by ANM and Asha Workers or representatives of an NGO.
The issue of malnutrition along with IMR and MMR is also associated with information &
knowledge, poverty to access to balanced diet and social aspects such as discrimination
with girl child which lead to the major interventions related awareness generation and
livelihood enhancement. Therefore focus needs to be laid on piloting in the selected areas
to create increased awareness and livelihoods to reduce malnutrition along with IMR &
MMR.
The facility of 108 (Mobile Service) needs to be strengthened/supplemented through locally

evolved mechanisms in the identified area in consultation with the local communities.
Various alternatives may include construction of link road through peoples' initiatives,
improvement of Doli concept, use of other form of transport, etc. to deal with the issue of
distance for emergency cases.
Motivation of the communities to construct, use and maintain the toilets needs to be taken
up as one of the state/central government priorities.
The families who lack cooking gas facilities needs to be motivated to use smokeless chulla to
avoid eye and respiratory problems
Inaccessibility to safe drinking water especially during rainy season is one of the reasons for
different types of health problems. The water purification methods such as chloriniazation,
filtering and boiling may be encouraged in the selected area.
3.3.
Agriculture
3.3.1. Major Gaps in Agriculture
Page | 66
Around 10-15% cultivated area is reduced in winter in lack of irrigation facilities
Around 25% of the land in the study area is affected by severity of soil erosion leading to
reduced land productivity
Average irrigation coverage of 21% is quite los as compared to the state average. Irrigation
coverage is insignificant in around two-third of the villages covered under study. Irrigation
coverage is less than 5% in two blocks whereas the same is insignificant in another 2 blocks.
The concept of on-farm water management through micro-irrigation systems is almost

insignificant in the study villages.
Average yield of major crops in the study area is low by 30-50% as compared to the state
average. The state averages are high due to higher crop yield in Tarai region and hence the
figures of crop yield in hilly region covered under the study may go further down.
According to analysis of the farmers' responses, lack of irrigation is one of the major factors
responsible for low agricultural productivity (22%) which is followed by damage of crops by
wild animals including bear, monkey, rabbits and others (18%), unfertile cultivable land
(16%), access to quality seeds (10%), natural calamities including rainfall and snowfall (9%),
lack of information & technology with regard to production enhancement and marketing
(8%), small & fragmented land holding pattern (5) and low interest in agriculture due to low
return (4%). In addition, the other factors responsible for low agricultural productivity and
production are related to inadequate application of chemical fertilizer, lack of seed
replacement, insect & pest attack, reduced quantity of farm yard manure (FYM), crop
marketing, etc.
The coverage of 3.2% area under organic farming is quite low even after being declared as
green organic Uttarakhand which needs to be increased to enhance income of the farming
community.
The coverage of nearly 0.25% area under off-season vegetable cultivation is extremely even
if the climatic conditions provide favorable environment especially in high hills.
The fertilizer consumption in the study area is insignificant under un-irrigated conditions
whereas the same is nearly less than 50% of the recommended quantity for urea and DAP in
different crops.
Page | 67
Overall Kurmula (white grub ), Katuwa, Fali Bhedak (Fruit Borer), Kand ko khandewala
Keeda (Stem Borer), Leaf Folder, Rice Hispa , Parnjaalak, Aara Makhi are reported to be the
main pests that affect a wide range of crop across all the blocks. Overall Jad sadan (Root
Rot), Uktha Rog (by Sunlight), Tana Sadan (Stem Rot), fal Sadan (Fruit Rot) are the main
diseases that affect a wide range of crops. Farmers normally use insecticide and pesticide in
vegetable cultivation.
Women being the backbone of various farm operations in hills suffer more in lack of farmer
friendly equipments.
Marketing of crops is primarily dependent on existing formal channel of Mandi system.

Farmers transport their produces to Mandi located up to 14 km in high and mid hills
whereas the maximum distance of Mandi is reduced to 5 km in foot hills.
The concept of crop processing on commercial scale is non-existent in the study area,
However, some of the farmers in foot hills use paddy hullers.
Based on an informal interaction with farmers, total average annual income of the villagers
varies from 40,000/ to 80,000/ of which nearly 15% comes from agriculture whereas the
same is less than 10% from animal husbandry. The remaining income is through various
other sources including labour, pension, small business, etc.

Farmers in the hilly terrain have high degree of disinterest in agriculture especially in unirrigated zones due to increased cost of cultivation with marginal or no returns. Agriculture is
very largely for subsistence and very few households are able to produce enough food to last
for more than three or four months. With few rural employment opportunities more and more
people are migrating to jobs outside of hill districts creating labour crises subsequently
increasing the work load of women members in the family. Therefore, major interventions need
to be focused on stopping deterioration of the productive infrastructure which makes farm
labour more productive and farming more remunerative to encourage farmers to invest their
time and resources in agriculture. Despite the disadvantages that agriculture faces in the hill
areas, Uttarakhand does have the advantage of cooler temperatures at higher altitudes,
allowing production of out of season vegetables and temperate fruits. The horticultural sector
is less developed than in the other hill states, so there is considerable potential for growth, as
there is in other niche products such as spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, and nuts. Key
Page | 68
suggestions to enhance productivity and income of the farmers need to be focused on the
following aspects
Soil & moisture conservation of the areas affected with severity of erosion through biomass
application on fields, vegetative bunding, construction of mechanical structures, etc. to stop
reducing soil fertility of cultivable lands.
Rainwater and/or runoff harvesting for support irrigation through micro-irrigation systems
or locally generated methods for raising high value crops. The concept needs to be based on
additional earning per unit of water stored.
Reviving defunct irrigation systems which are not being utilized for a long time due to poor
maintenance. The concept of participatory irrigation management needs to be promoted to
ensure effective use and maintenance adopting the concept of sustainability.
The concept of on-farm water management through micro-irrigation systems needs to be

promoted in active collaboration with the state Government and micro-irrigation
companies especially to focus on protected cultivation and/or off-season vegetable
cultivation.
Participatory extension approaches need to be evolved and adopted in collaboration

agricultural research universities, agricultural research centers and the state Government
for transferring technology to the farmers' fields. Information Technology Communication
(ITC) based advisories on the pattern of CABI International may be incorporated to analyse
farmers' problems and providing technological solutions.
Farmers face the problem of timeliness, quality and cost with regard to procurement of
agricultural inputs especially seed and hence many a time compromise on quality go for
traditional or poor quality seeds leading to low crop production.
The efforts with regard to collective approach needs to be promoted with the farmers at
cluster level with a view to reduce cost of cultivation, reduce crop losses due to diseases
including insect/pest attack, reduce post harvest losses, increase selling price through an
effective negotiation processes with the identified suppliers, buyers and agri-sevice
providers, etc.
Page | 69
Since Uttarakahnd has advantage of low temperature the concept of high value off-season
vegetable cultivation needs to be promoted along with an effective marketing channel to
supply to the high potential consumers for increased income. The concept may be followed
for aromatic medicinal plantation on similar lines.
Uttarakhand organic Board is an established institution responsible for promotion of

organic farming. The concept may be strengthened to ensure increased income to the
farmers through effective marketing network including export.
Stopping crop damage by wild animals is one of the major concerns for the farming
community. Farmers perceive that the wild animals have increased dependency on
agriculture due to loss of bio-diversity in the forests leading to low crop production.
The concept of soil health management needs to be promoted to maintain optimum

application of farm yard manure and chemical fertilizer reducing cost of cultivation and
increasing crop productivity.
Women being the backbone of various farm operations in hills suffer more in lack of farmer
friendly equipments. Women's SHG federations need to be promoted to starte agricultural
engineering service centers in their respective areas and run the centers on hir-purchase
concept.
The concept of crop processing or value addition needs to explored at local level for
promotion on commercial scale
3.4.
Livestock
3.4.1. Major Gaps in Livestock
Nearly 33% of cow and 60% of buffalo population belongs to local breed yielding around
33% and 65% of milk respectively as compared to the cross bred cow and murra buffalo
existing in the study area
Average milk yield of crossbred cow (7.5) and murra buffalo (8) in the study area is around
70-80% as compared to Tarai belt. As per analysis of community perceptions around 60% of
the reasons responsible for low milk yield are non-availability of green fodder round the
year and sub-standard animal rearing & feeding practices.
Page | 70
The milk production is reduced 15% during winter and 23% during summer due to various
reasons especially availability of green fodder.
Selling price of milk is less than Rs. 25/liter in half of the studied blocks where the same is
Rs. 30/liter in 2 blocks. An average selling price of district level cities is around 50-60/liter.
Around 50-60% of the villagers purchase fodder from the planes for a period varying from 6
to 8 months.
Feeding practice without chopping leads to 30% of fodder wastage in addition to

uncomforting to the animals. Animals are fed around 60-70% of their fodder requirement.
Low returns from milch animals disinterests the farmers especially in areas without
irrigation facilities where they can not afford fodder and green fodder in particular. For
instance, the cost of a wheat straw bundle is Rs. 24/ for the farmers in Bin block of
Pithoragarh district. A cow of improved breed consumes around 4-5 bundles per day costing
around Rs. 100-120/. Farmer gets an average milk yield of 5 liter per day which is sold out @
Rs. 25/liter lading to around Rs. 125/ provided the whole milk is sold out. No other input
costs are involved in this.
BAIF is promoting crossing of local cows with Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Jarshi-50 and Jarsi-100
with a focus on Jarsi-100 whereas the demand is for Sindhi and Sahiwal.
Community analysis indicates that around 27% of the reasons to access to the animal health
care services are related distance which is followed by unavailability of the veterinary
officer on requirement and non-existence of medicine in service center (26%), charging for
artificial insemination and check up (17%), sub-standard quality of semen and medicines
(10%), etc.
There are insignificant initiatives in the study area with regard poultry on commercial scale.
However, SC community in the study area seems to be keen upgrade the tradition of
poultry on larger scale.
Fishery is an insignificant alternate option of livelihoods in the study villages however there
seems to be huge potential for promotion of ornamental and coldwater fisheries especially
in upper reaches where water temperature is up to 16-17 degree.
Page | 71
Breed improvement of local cows and buffalos may be supplemented in collaboration with
BAIF and/or the state government. The process of breed improvement of goat is yet to be
initiated and the possibilities do exist for breed improvement of local goat with Sirohi or
Jamunapari breeds.
As per analysis of community perceptions around 60% of the reasons responsible for low
milk yield are non-availability of green fodder round the year and sub-standard animal
rearing & feeding practices. Plantation on community land needs to be promoted with a
focus on fodder species such as banjh, dolni, guchchhke, napier, kwairal, ouns grass, kanola
grass, oak trees, etc.
The intervention of raising nurseries of grasses for fodder promotion may be promoted as
an enterprising activity to market the saplings in open market to farmers, forest
department, animal husbandry department and others.
The concept of fodder bank needs to be promoted by procuring fodder during the
harvesting season at a cheaper rate and use the same during fodder crises.
The concept of feeding chopped fodder using chaff cutter and use of fodder trough needs
to be promoted through effective motivation of the farmers with a view to ensure comfort
of the animals and reduction in fodder wastage.
A participatory approach with regard to extension and communication needs to be evolved

and adopted for building community awareness of animal rearing practices, health care,
shelter and others. The approach of like CABI international for providing advisories on
various aspects of livestock development along with livestock based micro-enterprises may
be followed.
There is a strong need to establish workable relationship of the livestock holders with the
animal health care services and to create mobile services to reduce the gap between the
both. Periodic health camps need to be organized on animal health care.
There are insignificant initiatives in the study area with regard to poultry on commercial
scale. There is need to promote economically viable units especially with SC community
Page | 72
equipped with quality inputs, health care services and effective marketing channels to
ensure profitability.
Fishery is an insignificant alternate option of livelihoods in the study villages however there
seems to be huge potential for promotion of ornamental and coldwater fisheries especially
in upper reaches where water temperature is up to 16-17 degree.
Effective marketing strategies need to be established for increased selling price with a view
to increase profitability and reduce farmers' disinterest in livestock rearing.
3.5.
Forest
3.5.1. Major Gaps in Forest
As per analysis of the responses of the community and the forest officials, major factors
responsible for forest degradation include illegal cutting of trees is the major reason (25%)
which is followed by forest fire (15%), domination of chirpine trees leading to decreased
regeneration (10%), human and livestock pressure on forest (8%) and inadequate plantation
of trees to maintain forest biodiversity (7%). Etc.
Domination of chirpine trees has reduced the process of natural regeneration of other
species leading to destroying forest bio-diversity. Reduced fodder for livestock and
fruit/roots for wild animals have lead to reduced production and income to the farmers. In
addition, forest fire damages the forest and pollutes the environment.
According to the community responses only 10% of Van Panchayats are active in mid and
foot hills whereas 60% of them in high are doing good work.
Access to minor forest produces in most of the cases is denied by the forest department
reducing livelihood opportunities to the local people.
Reduced fodder availability from the forest has forced farmers to rear limited number of
milch animals.
Decreased bio-diversity in the forest has forced the wild animals to depend on agricultural
crops reducing production and income of the farmers.
Decreased bio-diversity has limited options for establishing forest based micro-enterprises.
Page | 73

There seem to be very limited interventions as most of the forest based interventions impact
after several years. However, some of the initiatives can help the villagers in accessing to the
benefits from forest.
The concept of Van Panchayat needs to activated more to function as per the guidelines.
Using the leaves of chirpine for coal making allowing the forest to regenerate naturally and
to enrich the forest bio-diversity.
Increasing peoples' access to some of the minor forest produces in partnership with forest
department with a view to process and market collectively.
Increasing focus of the department on production of fodder from the forest to be used for
stall feeding.
Promoting forest based micro-enterprises as was experimented by Uttarakhand Bamboo

and Fiber Development Board for bamboo and ringal based products.
3.6.
Environment
3.6.1. Major Gaps in Environmental Issues

Some of the major concerns with regard environment in Uttarakhand are included as below.
Hundreds of hectares of forests are affected by forest fires during every summer season
leading to loss of natural bio-diversity along with human, livestock and wildlife.
A lot of non-biodegradable waste is carelessly thrown in the area by the tourists and local
community both. If burnt, they release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
A large number of natural springs that dotted the hillside have been damaged due to the
cutting of slopes for road building or other unplanned activities.
Page | 74
Encroachments, illegal tree felling and unregulated collection of forest products are also
responsible for damage to forests. Many wildlife corridors have been choked due to
unplanned development and this also contributes to increased human-wildlife conflict.
Illegal products made of fur, bones, glands, tusks, feathers etc of endangered species, are
offered to unsuspecting buyers as souvenirs and local produce.
Open grazing has been practiced across the state causing damage to the forest.
Warming in Himalayas is happening at an unprecedented rate, higher than the global

average of 0.74 C over the last 100 years at least 2-3 times higher than global averages.
There is increasing perception and documentation that precipitation is changing, becoming

more erratic and intense.
As compared to global averages, Himalyan glaciers are receding at a rapid rate.

In addition to the forest based interventions, following suggestions may be considered to
address to the issues of environment in the state.
Effective awareness building strategies need to be developed to reduce careless throw of

non-biodegradable waste. The strategies may include effective communicating tools, guide
lines to the tourists and shop keepers, waste bins at high density locations, etc.
Environmental education in schools and colleges with specific guidelines need to be

promoted for spread of the concept faster at family and community levels both.
Swachchh Bharat is one of the focus areas of the Central Government hence the strategies
for effective implementation may be drawn from there.
3.7.
Livelihood Strategies
3.7.1. Major Gaps in Livelihoods
Page | 75
The community primarily gives priority to forest and agriculture & allied sectors based
micro-enterprises. Low and staggered volume of agricultural, livestock and forest produces
limits commercialization in form of micro-enterprises development.
Agriculture has been subsisting farming focusing on cereal crop production. Animal
husbandry has been based on cow rearing for producing bullocks for agriculture.
Horticulture has not been taken to the potential the state has due to its advantages of low
temperature.
Goat rearing back yard poultry have been practiced to meet out their meat consumption
leading to limited examples of micro-enterprises development with regard to poultry and
goats.
The concept of crop processing has a huge potential in the state however the same exists at
an infant stage in the state quite similar to the other areas in the country.
Villagers lack entrepreneurship in terms of attitude, aptitude and skills to enhance their
income through self-employment. Traditionally. Most of the villagers have been dependent
on money order economy and hence lack risk taking capacity.
There are very limited examples of sustainable models on micro-enterprises development.

Many of the initiatives taken by the government and non-government organization could
function till the external support remained with them. Most of them got collapsed after the
external support system.
Non-cooperative attitude of the government departments and the support agencies is one
of the main reasons discouraging youths to go for self-employment.
Financial institutions and banks present a major hurdle if the upcoming entrepreneurs want
to establish a business and many of them withdraw at the first stage itself.
Failure of many micro-enterprises due to low feasibility and viability discourages

entrepreneurs to take risk in establishing the micro-enterprises.
Marketing is a major problem due to low and staggered volume, high cost of transportation,
non-existent or inefficient marketing network, lack of branding, etc.
Page | 76
Woman is a backbone for farm based economy across the states. Youth normally migrate to
earn their livelihood from plane districts of the state or outside the state Women play a
major role in agriculture, livestock rearing and household activities.
Focus of livelihood promotion needs to laid on reducing work load of women and to stop
migration of youth. Therefore, the target group for the intervention relates to women and
youth.
The state is flooded with number of community institutions formed by various departments
under different schemes. Community institutions were also created by NGOs for specific
themes and hence the concept of community institution does exist across the state.
A number of self-help groups (SHGs) along with their federation do exist in the state who
have substantial experience on working with outside agencies on various aspects. Women
SHGs and their federations are relatively active in the state.
The concept of micro-enterprises development needs to be developed primarily based on

local resources, skills and market. However, the potential areas may be identified in nonconventional aspects as well.
The most important part of the process relates to motivation

individuals/groups/federations for starting micro-enterprises development.
Skill development with regard to entrepreneurship development, business planning &

management, quality management, procurement & marketing, etc need to be ensured on
the basis of training needs assessment.
Feasibility and viability assessment need to be carried out by highly qualified and
experienced professionals to avoid any kind of business risk. The detailed project report
(DPR) must be self explanatory to convince the banks and financial institutions to support
the projects.
Linkages need to be established with support and service providing agencies so as help
them have easy access without any hesitation.
Page | 77
of
Initially support should be provided in establishing the business but the withdrawal process
should start from the day one so as to make the entrepreneur independent.
Establishing effective marketing channel will be the most important priority of the
entrepreneur and hence initial support should be provided to them
Page | 78
4. PROJECT AREA AND TARGET COMMUNITY

4.1.
Methodology
The indicators selected for prioritization of the area included sex ratio, SC population, ST
population, number of BPL families, literacy rate, infant mortality rate, presence of small &
marginal farmers, area covered under irrigation, agriculture production, meat production and
milk production. The figures of district averages were analysed against the selected indicators
as presented in the table below.
Further, the average figures were ranked for all 13 districts from 1 to 13 in the following table
as per the details below.
Sex ratio
Percent of SC population
Percent of ST population
Percent of BPL families
Percent literacy rate
Infant mortality rate
Percent of small & marginal farmers
Percent area under irrigation
Agriculture production
Meat production
Milk production
: Ranked 1 for the lowest district average

: Ranked 1 for the highest population
: Ranked 1 for the Lowest average
: Ranked 1 for the highest average
: Ranked 1 for the highest average
: Ranked 1 for the lowest average
The total numbers of ranks were estimated for all the districts in the state which were then
ranked to select the priority districts with the lesser score. Five districts with minimum to
maximum scores have been presented as below.
Bageshwar
Rudraprayag
Champwat
Uttarkashi
Pithoragarh
Page | 79
Table-30: Priority Area Selection Indicators

S. No Districts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Uttarkashi
Chamoli
Rudraprayag
Pithoragarh
Bageshwar
Pauri Garh.
Tehri Garh.
Nainital
Almora
Champawat
Dehradun
Haridwar
US Nagar
Average
Page | 80
Sex Ratio
SC
ST
BPL Families Literacy Rate
Population Population
IMR
Small &
Marginal
Farmers
Irrigated
Area
Agri Prod.
Meat
prod.
Milk Prod.
(/,000)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(/,000)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
958
1019
1114
1020
1090
1103
1077
934
1139
980
902
880
920
1010
24.44
20.6
24.13
24.78
27.74
17.83
16.57
20.02
24.28
18.28
13.48
20.3
14.46
20.28
1.06
3.14
0.17
4.02
0.78
0.33
0.15
0.79
0.21
0.52
6.58
0.33
7.47
1.97
8.61
8.28
10.68
9.09
10.1
8.88
10.11
4.5
9.76
7.66
3.25
4.78
4.28
7.7
75.98
83.48
82.09
82.93
80.69
82.59
75.1
84.85
81.06
80.73
85.24
74.62
74.44
80.31
42
27
20
20
31
41
58
30
20
35
37
67
36
36
88.2
92.2
96.0
98.1
&
88.5
91.6
62.9
&
92.1
87.4
89.3
72.1
87.2
2.9
2.62
1.52
4.4
2.84
5.94
5.28
7.31
4.31
1.9
5.94
21.24
33.74
7.69
42
89
92
72
70
67
69
90
15
61
97
68
40
77
7.6
2.8
2.7
3.3
1.8
17.9
12.0
4.3
3.4
3.0
22.1
12.9
7.2
7.7
4.0
6.1
3.53
7.9
4.0
8.0
8.5
7.6
9.1
3.4
8.9
17.2
12.4
7.7
Table-31: Ranking for Prioritization of the Districts

S. No Districts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Uttarkashi
Chamoli
Rudraprayag
Pithoragarh
Bageshwar
Pauri Garh.
Tehri Garh.
Nainital
Almora
Champawat
Dehradun
Haridwar
US Nagar
Page | 81
Sex
SC
ST
BPL
Ratio Populatio Population Families
n
Literacy
Rate
IMR
Small & Irrigated

Marginal
Area
Farmers
Agri
Prod.
Meat Milk Prod. Total

prod.
(%)
1-Low
(%)
1-high
(%)
1-High
(%)
1-high
(%)
1-Low
(/,000)
1-high
(%)
1-high
(%)
1-Low
(%)
1-low
(%)
1-low
(%)
1-low
5
7
12
8
10
11
9
4
13
6
2
1
3
3
6
5
2
1
11
12
8
4
10
9
7
13
5
4
12
3
7
9
13
6
11
8
2
10
1
8
7
1
5
3
6
2
11
4
9
13
10
12
4
11
8
10
5
9
3
12
7
6
13
2
1
3
10
11
12
8
4
2
9
13
7
5
1
6
10
4
2
1
3
8
5
13
7
6
11
9
12
5
3
1
7
4
9
8
11
6
2
10
12
13
9
10
3
5
6
1
2
12
7
4
8
13
11
9
3
2
5
1
12
10
7
6
4
13
11
8
3
5
2
7
4
8
9
6
11
1
10
13
12
64
70
59
65
52
88
75
99
89
63
96
89
92
Rank
4
6
2
5
1
8
7
13
9
3
12
10
11
4.2.
Thematic Interventions and Target Community
Based on the selection of 5 bottom ranks, district wise thematic areas for interventions along
with the target community are presented as below.
Bageshwar: Highest SC Population, Lowest meat production, third highest BPL families,
third highest small & marginal farmers, fourth lowest milk production, fourth lowest are
under irrigation, fifth lowest literacy rate
Rudraprayag: Highest percent of BPL families, lowest area under irrigation, second highest
percent of small & marginal farmers, second lowest milk production, second lowest meat
production
Champwat: Lowest milk production, second lowest area under irrigation, fourth lowest
agricultural production, fourth lowest meat production
Uttarkashi: Third highest SC population, third highest infant mortality rate, third lowest
agricultural production, third lowest milk production, fourth lowest literacy rate, fifth
lowest sex ratio, fifth highest ST population and fifth lowest area under irrigation
Pithoragarh: Highest percent of small & marginal farmers, second highest SC population,
third highest ST population, fourth highest percent of BPL families, fifth lowest milk
production
The details with regard to project area, focused areas for interventions and target community
have been presented in the table below. Thematic interventions are just focused areas based
on the above analysis carried out on the basis of secondary information and are not the
limitations to carry out location specific priorities.
Page | 82
4.3.
Project Area, Interventions and Target Community
Table-32: Project Area, Interventions and Target Community

District
Focus Areas for Intervention
Bageshwar
Rudraprayag:
Champwat
Uttarkashi
Pithoragarh
Page | 83
Target Community
Commercial poultry, Fishery, sheep &

goat rearing for meat
Other income generation activities
Crop production enhancement
Milk production enhancement

Irrigation development & management
Quality education for poor
Income generation activities


Commercial poultry, Fishery, sheep &
goat rearing for meat
Focus on women members of

family
SC Community
Landless community
Small & marginal farmers

Commercial poultry, sheep & goat rearing
for meat
Community health care

Quality education for poor
Gender mainstreaming

family
Landless community

family
SC Community
ST community
Landless community

Income generation activities

family
Landless community

family
SC Community
ST community
Landless community
4.4.
Blocks Identification
The similar approach was followed to selected the priority as blocks as in case of districts. The
indicators applied for selection process include sex ratio, SC & ST population, literacy rate,
percent area covered under cultivation, percents area covered under irrigation and percent of
small & marginal farmers with less than 5 ha.
Table-33: Priority Blocks Selection Indicators
S. No Block
Sex Ratio SC & ST
Literacy
Population
Rate
Cultivated
Area
Irrigated
Area
Land holding <

0.5 ha
(No)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
1.
2.
3.
Bageshwar
Kapcoat
Bageshwar
Garud Baijnath
1096
1065
1157
6.9
12.4
7.6
75.54
81.33
81.21
32.5
39.9
27.5
15.8
23.9
23.4
32.84
44.82
22.33
1.
2.
3.
Rudraprayag
Jakholi
Agastmuni
Ukhimath
1165
1136
1048
2.7
9.6
2.7
77.01
75.3
77.01
24.4
53.9
21.6
12.6
13.0
14.6
60.5
21.9
17.4
1.
2.
3.
4.
Champawat
Pati
Barakot
Lohaghat
Champawat
989
1029
1063
983
3.3
2.4
3.7
6.0
80.72
76.07
78.51
79.98
13.9
8.4
28.6
48.8
3.3
4.1
1.4
12.4
12.7
20.9
26.0
40.2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Uttarkashi
Mori
Purola
Nau gaonw
Dunda
Chiyalisauda
Bhatwari
946
974
969
1004
1043
886
3.6
3.5
6.0
4.7
4.0
2.3
63.49
73.82
73.3
76.12
74.73
82.72
11.2
15.0
27.4
18.1
12.7
15.2
22.4
24.1
12.7
22.4
19.5
17.0
10.6
11.1
18.8
23.4
16.5
19.2
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pithoragarh
Munashyari
Dharchula
Berinag
Didihat
1048
982
1071
1065
5.5
5.1
5.0
3.0
67.6
66.4
75.7
74.8
17.9
8.7
13.3
10.0
5.8
12.8
9.8
10.7
16.3
7.1
13.6
6.0
Page | 84
5.
6.
7.
8.
Kanalichhina
Gangolihat
Pithoragarh
Munakot
1108
1100
1041
1113
3.8
6.9
4.9
3.6
78.5
69.0
79.9
78.9
Table-34: Ranking for Prioritization of Blocks

S. No Block
Sex Ratio SC & ST
Literacy
Population
Rate
13.7
12.8
10.4
12.8
Cultivated
Area
6.9
7.3
10.6
5.8
10.1
14.0
12.9
19.6
Irrigated
Land
Area
holding <
0.5 ha
(%)
(%)
Total
Score
(No)
(%)
(%)
(%)
1.
2.
3.
Bageshwar
Kapcoat
Bageshwar
Garud Baijnath
2
1
3
2
1
3
1
3
2
2
3
1
1
3
2
2
1
3
10
12
14
1.
2.
3.
Rudraprayag
Jakholi
Agastmuni
Ukhimath
3
2
1
3
1
2
2
1
3
1
3
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
11
11
14
1.
2.
3.
4.
Champawat
Pati
Barakot
Lohaghat
Champawat
2
3
4
1
3
4
2
1
4
1
2
3
2
1
3
4
2
3
1
4
4
3
2
1
17
15
14
14
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Uttarkashi
Mori
Purola
Naugaonw
Dunda
Chiyalisauda
Bhatwari
2
3
4
5
6
1
4
5
1
2
3
6
1
3
2
5
4
6
1
3
6
5
2
4
6
5
1
4
3
2
6
5
3
1
4
2
20
24
17
22
22
21
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Pithoragarh
Munashyari
Dharchula
Berinag
Didihat
Kanalichhina
Gangolihat
3
1
5
4
7
6
2
3
4
8
6
1
2
1
5
4
6
3
8
1
6
2
7
5
2
8
5
7
3
4
2
7
4
8
6
3
19
21
29
33
35
22
Page | 85
7.
8.
Bin Pithoragarh
Munakot
2
8
5
7
7
8
3
4
6
1
The exercise lead to identification 2 blocks in the identified districts as below.

Bageshwar:
Rudraprayag:
Champawat:
Uttarkashi:
Pithoragarh:
Page | 86
Capcoat and Bageshwar

Jakholi and Agastmuni
Lohaghat and Champawat
Mori and Naugaon
Munshyari and Dharchulla
5
1
28
29
5.
5.1.
PROPOSED ACTION PLAN
Vision
THF/RIST plans for a holistic & realistic perspective along with clear approach & strategies to be
executed with a view to achieve a goal of improving the quality of life of the low-income
communities of the entire state focusing on disease prevention, children's education and
forest regeneration under its vision 2020.
5.2.
Geography and Interventions
Analysis of secondary information lead to selection of 2 blocks in each of 6 districts

identified in the state. However, the number of blocks and districts to be taken up at the
initial stage may be decided on the priority of THF/RIST. Process may be initiated only in one
of the identified blocks in the district on the basis of prioritized needs of the block and
presence of a credible partner organization in the area.
Key suggestions made in the report are based on findings from the study area with a very
small sample size and hence provide an indicative picture of the interventions likely to be
carried across the identified blocks in districts. Therefore, specific interventions along with
their beneficiaries will be decided during micro-level stage identification of the partner
organization and defining the project area.
THF/RIST may like to carry out a detailed exercise to further pin point the areas for
interventions to be focused during the first phase of its 2020 vision.
5.3.
Clear Strategies
THF/RIST may like to develop a strategy document using log frame approach for the first
phase of 2020 vision focusing on overall purpose, specific objectives, strategic approach,
key interventions, stakeholders' identification, monitoring & evaluation framework, etc. If
felt necessary, an external resource person/agency may be involved for developing the
strategy document.
A workshop may be organized involving some of the selected professionals for refining the
strategy documents. Facilitation by an external resource person may be useful for
conducting the workshop.
Page | 87
The strategy document should also guide THF/RIST in identification of potential partners
including the central/ state government departments, training & research organizations,
financial institutions, corporate companies, etc. and establishing dialogue for ensuring
effective partnership with them.
5.4.
Working with Partners
On the basis of strategy document, THF/RIST will start the process of identification of
credible NGOs or community based organization (CBOs) for carrying out implementation in
the identified blocks.
On the other hand, process will continue to negotiate with government departments and
funding agencies along with other stakeholders to finalize terms & conditions for ensuring
effective partnership.
In addition to the line departments, potential partners in government could be State Rural
Livelihood Mission, State Rural Health Mission, State Literacy Mission/ Sakchharta Mission,
Water & Sanitation Programme, Disaster Management Authority, Directorate of Watershed
Management, Uttarakhand DASP for working on crop diversification, Uttarakhans Organic
Commodity Board, Uttarakhand Bamboo & Fiber Development Board, etc.
There are some of the premier institutions in and around Uttarakhand who could be
potential partners with regard to training and research activities. The list includes Indira
Gandhi Forest Research Institute-Dehradun, Central Soil & Water Conservation Research
and Training (ICAR)-Dehradun, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar,
Garhwal Agricultural University, Vivekanand Parvitiya Anusandhan Sansthan-Almora, GB
pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, National Institute of HydrologyRoorkee, Indian Veterinary Research Institute-Izzatnagar, Project Directorate on Foot and
Mouth Diseases (ICAR) -Mukteshwar, Directorate Cold Water Fisheries Research (ICAR)Bhimtal, etc.
Major funding agencies working in Uttarakhand include Tata Trust, IFAD, Reliance
Foundation, Azimji Prem ji Foundation, Oxfam, Action Aid, IGSSS, Christian Aid, HelpAge,
CASA, Save The Children, CRY, Plan International, World Bank, UN Organisations, I-Impact,
America India Foundation, Piramel Foundation, Star TV Network, titan, CBM, HelpAge India,
etc. THF/RIST may associate with some of these agencies in dealing with state/project level
issues.
Page | 88
A common workshop may be organized with all stakeholders including implementation

partners to bring all of them at equal level of understanding with regard to objective,
approach and strategies. The platform may also be used for orientation of the stakeholders
by THF/RIST.
5.5.
Planning for Implementation
All the identified implementation partners may be advised to develop s a detailed proposal
for their project areas respectively. The project proposals have to be within the framework
of strategy document prioritizing issues as prevailing at the local level.
THF/RIST may assess needs of the implementation partners if they need strategic support
for developing the project. The support may be provided to the agencies through in-house
capacities of THF/RIST or external resource persons/institutions.
Major focus should be laid on non-negotiable issues as to be decided by THF/RIST with

regard to technical excellence, cost effectiveness, community participation and cost
sharing, social equity, gender mainstreaming, environment sensitive, convergence with
government, etc.
Efforts may be laid on piloting innovations across the sectors and sub-sectors under varying
field conditions.
After the project proposals are developed the same be reviewed at THF/RIST level and
changes may be suggested to be incorporated by implementing agencies.
5.6.
Implementation Strategies
After the projects are finalized, implementing agencies will carry out a baseline study in
their respective areas and micro-level planning exercise will be carried out for identification,
prioritization of specific interventions along with their target groups. If required, support
may be provided by external resource individuals/institutions in carrying micro-planning
process.
Participatory implementation and monitoring systems will be required at implementation

level to ensure quality, timeliness, directions, etc. The concept of withdrawal should be
initiated from the day one with a view to start sharing responsibility and accountability to
the community from the initial stage itself.
Page | 89
A capacity building plan will be required in each of the projects to ensure effective
participatory implementation and monitoring of the project activities. Resource
individuals/organizations will have to be identified for building capacities of partner
organizations and the community members.
Creating concept of commonness will be the basis for group formation and federation of
the same. Random group formation normally does not live long. There thousand of
community groups and institutions in Uttarakhand with extremely low sustainability rate.
The concept should provide strong basis for group formation and management. In many
cases the groups already formed may be included under THF/RIST supported projects.
Women are the backbone of Uttarakhand economy in rural areas who are loaded with
multiple responsibilities. Many of the NGOs and government departments have formed the
groups of women. The existing strength of women's organization may be tapped in the
project areas. However, this has to be ensured that they are liberated from drudgery rather
than overloaded additionally with increasing responsibilities.
In addition to reporting system, there should be strong mechanism to document processes

with regard to success or failures to learn for mid-course correction and replication
Page | 90

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Baseline Study Report on Uttarakhand

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REPORT

The Hans Foundation

(Innovative Solutions based on Conviction)

2.3.1. Infant Mortality Rate & Maternal Mortality Ratio..31

2.4.1. Cultivated Area.36

2.8.1. Livelihood Focus..60

5. PROPOSED ACTION PLAN87

: Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation

1. BACKGROUND AND APPROACH

Objective of the Study

Scope of the Study

Fishery; major water bodies/sources, production & productivity, marketing network,

of various stakeholders including the implementation partner agencies and community

Approach and Methodology

What are the major problems across the selected sectors/sub-sectors?

Interaction with regional representatives for collecting qualitative information covering

What sectors/Sub-sectors to be taken up for interventions?

The studied sectors/Sub-sectors included primary/secondary education, community health,

The list included sector/sub-sector specific Government departments/agencies, funding

Designing Tools & Techniques

: Bin (Pithoragarh) and Bhatwadi ( Uttarkashi)

Information Collection for Setting Baseline

State Government Offices, National Level Government Organisations, Non-govt.

Monitoring & Quality Control

Documentation & Reporting

2. OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS

meetings/small group discussion, organizing campaigns (School Chalo Abhiyan), provision of

Table-4: Attendance in Schools

Basic Senior Schools

Table-7-: Toilets in Schools

Usage of Toilet Facility

Quality of Mid-day Meal

2.3.3. Household Facilities

2.4.2. Land and Water

Area Covered under

Farmers with Microirrigation Facility

Table-16: Yield of Major Summer Crops

2.4.6. Chemical Fertilizer

Table-18: Urea Application Rate

Mustard Cauliflow Potato

2.4.8. Farm Mechanization

Table-20: Livestock Pattern

2.5.2. Milk Production

Table-22: Milk Collection per Village

Table-23: Contribution to Milk Production by Different Animals

Table-24: Percent of milk Marketing

Another reason to switch over to stall feeding is related to community awareness on

2.6.3. Initiatives for Forest Regeneration

Increased bio-diversity conservation increase the dependency of wild animals on forests

USING Chirpine leaves (Pual) for coal making.

Income through carbon credit

2.7.1. Environmental Issues

Warming in Himalayas is happening at an unprecedented rate, higher than the global

There is increasing perception and documentation that precipitation is changing, becoming

2.7.4. Uttarakhand State Action Plan for Climate Change:

Review of network of hydrological observation stations

Collection of necessary additional hydro-meteorological and hydrological data for proper

Establishment/strengthening of ground water monitoring and geohydrology networks

Surface and ground water quality data collection, etc.

Other initiatives include adoption/development of modern technology for measurement of

2.8.1. Livelihood Focus

There are very limited examples of sustainable models on micro-enterprises development.

Failure of many micro-enterprises due to low feasibility and viability discourages