btca
TRANSCRIPT
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONWORKING IN
THE GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK
An Community Based Organization in the Western Himalayas working towards sustainable alternative income generation activities in the Eco-zone of the Great Himalayan National Park for
-Increased Local Participation -Developing Alterative income generation along with conservation efforts-Protection of natural environment and cultural heritage of the Seraj Valleys -A prime example of Public Private Partnership along with Great Himalayan National Park promoting biodiversity and community through means like ecotourism
Objectives•Rising awareness for protection of environment and conservation of biodiversity within the local community•Ensuring decent livelihood for the villagers by creating sources of income to lessen burden on GHNP’s fragile environment . •Promoting inclusive socioeconomic development through upliftment of the poorest.•Social, economic and political empowerment of women•Ensuring that tourism in the park benefits the villagers in the first place•Involving the villagers in conservation activities•Promotion of girl education•Rising awareness for women and children health
BIO DIVERSITY CONSERVATIION -THROUGH WOMEN SAVING AND CREDIT GROUPS - GIVING THEM ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT -TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING TO PRODUCE QULAITY PRODUCTS -GIVING MARKET ACCESS - GIVING A VOICE TO THE POOR BY PROVIDING THEM A CHOICE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPERTUNITIES
COMMUNITY ADVANCMENT
FORMING SELF HELP GROUPS BY ORGANIZING TRAINING CAMPSBy creating opportunities of employment through value addition of local products and marketing linkage By Restoring an ecosystemic relationship between the local community and the natural environment. By
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•ABOUT 200 YOUTH TRAINED AND ORGANIZED IN ECOTOURISM
•PREFORMING TREKS AND EXPEDETIONS IN THE GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK
•HELPING ECO TOURISTS WITH OFF BEAT INTERPRETATION OF THE CULTURAL ETO’s OF THE VILLAGES IN THE ECO ZONE
•GENRATING ABOUT 5 LAKHS OF WAGES FOR MEN SELF HELP GROUPS WITH HELP OF SUNSHINE HIMALAYAN ADVENTURES- AN ECOTOURISM VENTURE IN KULLU
Origin of BTCA
GHNP is not only the land of splendid nature, the area is also inhabited for centuries by villagers whose livelihood closely depends on the natural environment
GHNP is created in 1999 for conservation of landscape, biodiversity and endangered species
Utilization of natural resources in the park became prohibited. As a consequence, villagers were deprived of a substantial part of their income
To address this socioeconomic issue, the park authorities have encouraged the villagers to make a local organization. It was named SAHARA
In 2008, SAHARA has given birth to a fresh organization BTCA
BTCA stands for protection of environment and conservation of biodiversity by making it socially feasible and economically viable for the local community
Objectives of BTCA
Rising awareness for protection of environment and conservation of biodiversity among the local community
Social, economic and political empowerment of women
Promotion of girl education
Ensuring decent livelihood for the villagers by creating sources of income which do not require to utilize the park’s resources
Promoting inclusive socioeconomic development through upliftment of the poorest and lowest cast families
Rising awareness for women and children health
Ensuring that tourism in the park benefit the villagers in the first place
Actions of BTCA
Formation and empowerment of “Women Saving and Credit Groups” (WSCGs) among the poorest and lowest cast families in the ecozone
The WSCGs are encouraged to save daily at least one rupee that they place on their joint bank account. They are also getting involved in various production activities in the villages
The saved money is gradually invested in income generating activities
• Organic spices, medicinal plants and other agriculture products• Apricot oil, honey, ghee• Handicrafts• Jams and juices made of local raw materials
Training of youngsters for being employed in ecotourism activities
Awareness programme through street theatre for conservation of nature, health issues, girl child education
In association with the park BTCA offers training, facilitates production and marketing for the following products :
The eco-zone is divided in 9 clusters headed by selected “Group Organizers” who follow, support and motivate their respective groups
Outcomes
Total saving of the groups adds up to 1,195,699 rupees
52 WSCG’s have been formed, with a total of 546 members. Out of them 194 belong to scheduled (lower) cast
Total income generated through the new production/marketing system for the last 3 years:
• Agriculture produces : 195,789 rupees• Medicinal plants : 563,620 rupees• Processed products : 146,614 rupees• Handicraft : 70,065 rupees• Worms and compost : 236,244 rupees• Wages : 269,920 rupees
Total income generated by ecotourism : 320,412 rupees
30 medicinal plants propagation areas implemented
110 vermi-compost beds are productive
20 days awareness programme organized yearly since 2008
22 ladies from the WSCGs have been elected in the local administration. Many are now involved in village level decision making.
4 souvenir shops have been opened for marketing of the products
TOTAL : 2,939,714 rs
Outcomes
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Consumption LoanProduction LoanTotal Saving
Report of saving and loaning
Outcomes
Agriculture Produces
Medicinal Plants
Processed Products
Handicraft Ecotourism Wages Worms and compost
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Report of Income Generated Activities
2009-20102010-20112011-2012
Challenges of BTCA
Organizing systematic and regular production
Opening appropriate marketing channels
Involving more villagers in the socioeconomic movement
Increasing the ecotourism profit return to the villagers
Overcoming the social obstacles arising because of the cast factor
Having some control on the tourism market forces for preserving the landscape, the rural traditional culture, and respecting the ecotourism principles
The future of BTCA
Widening the range of production to home-made products that can be marketed according to the fair-trade principles
Mobilization of more villagers for formation of new WSCGs and reinforcement of the promoted village social system
Policy advocacy for benefiting of a well defined and legal frame laying down the rules and regulations for ecotourism in GHNP
Keeping the WSCGs away from partism
Providing incentives for the Group Organizers and the most active WSCGs
Asserting the BTCA’s identity (new logo, web site, promotional documents, capacity building of the members, etc)
Involving the villagers in conservation activities
BTCABiodiversity, tourism and community advancement
Thank you !
Contact :Gopal Krishan- 9418282148 ( Director-
Ankit Sood [email protected] (9418102083- Ecotourism Consultant & Trainer)