Our development Model

What kind of a model are we talking about here.

The model is first of all sustainable, which in any case is the need of the hour, thanks to the environmental crisis looking us in the face.

We believe that we can be a model for a sustainable community for the world to see & learn from. We can reduce our carbon footprint to zero in next 5-7 years, running a thriving tourism industry supplemented with robust infrastructure, an organic food industry, culture, arts & crafts industry.

The project is based on cooperation more than on competition. A lot of people from the village come together for a common goal. A lot of villages come together for that same common goal. A lot of volunteers come together for the goal. NGOs, corporate, outdoor companies, schools & colleges will need to come together and work on this common goal. It can only be achieved with a lot of cooperation.

To reduce our carbon footprint to zero inspite of the development will mean taking a new approach.

We want to adopt traditional methods and new age green technologies for cutting our emissions. As a tourist destination we will be hosting a lot of guests and will be able to display innovative recycling, upcycling, better management and production of energy.

Last but not the least, all the socio-economic benefits from the tourism related project will be shared by every individual in the villages. Every development has its have’s and have not’s which brings in inequality and jealousies. We hope to share our benefits amongst every body in the community in a fair and just manner thereby reducing jealousies and increasing cooperation & motivations.

Problem Statement

The author of the blog is a native of this region and has observed the ways of life of the rural folks with intrigue and awe since childhood.

Mountainous regions are ecologically potential with natural resources but economically less developed. These resources need to be utilized in rational and sustainable manner for long-term sustenance for the people of this region. Women play a vital part in the mountainous region of Uttaranchal state. In this region, as men in most of the families work out side due to lack of industries or other avenues of employment in this region. Women of this hill state are very hard working, they toil through out the day, starting with the family works, nurturing children and livestock, going out for fodder, firewood, drinking water and NTFP collection for sustaining livelihoods.

Enhancing social security for these women and setting up tourism industry and management of natural resources, medicinal plants cultivation etc. can enhance employment opportunities both for men and women in this region, which will result in less migration of the man folk. The remote area of this state has inadequate networking of transport and other basic supporting facilities, which come in the way for proper benefits of tourism, agriculture, horticulture and other developmental programs conducted by state and other organizations.

The mountain people of the Himalayas are among the most socially, politically and economically deprived people in the world, and yet their stewardship of mountain natural resources is closely linked to sustainability of life in lowland areas.

The educated workforce of this region would rather move to brighter pastures in search employment than to stay here and have nothing to do. Plenty of free time and easy availability of cheap liquor has led many a men fall prey to the ills of drinking habits. What have they to look forward to? May be a small shop or if possible, a jeep, with the coming of roads to these villages.

In spite of the huge potential for eco tourism development in the region due to lack of planning we lag far behind the other states & regions in terms of tourism destinations. Even our world famous pilgrimage destinations like Badriath & Kedarnath lie strewn with plastic packet and bottles. A lot of ugly cement structures have come up here in the name of  development and beautification. Lack of infrastructure for Solid Waste Management in these places and lack of awareness regarding these issues has led to these places being turned into virtual dustbins littered with all sorts of non biodegradable waste. If soon nothing is done towards developing a sustainable eco-tourism programme this region is going to be left further behind in the race for becoming hot tourism destination.

1. Definition of Rural Tourism :   *
Any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience can be termed as rural tourism . Rural Tourism is essentially an activity which takes place in the countryside. It is multi-faceted and may entail farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and eco-tourism. As against conventional tourism, rural tourism has certain typical characteristics like; it is experience oriented, the locations are sparsely populated, it is predominantly in natural environment, it meshes with seasonality and local events and is based
on preservation of culture, heritage and traditions.

• Tourism growth potential can be harnessed as a strategy for Rural Development. The development of a strong platform around the concept of Rural Tourism is definitely useful for a country like India, where almost 74% of the population resides in its 7 million villages. Across the world the trends of industrialization and development have had an urban centric approach. Alongside, the stresses of Urban lifestyles have led to a “counter-urbanization” syndrome. This has led to growing interest in the rural areas.
• There are other factors which are shifting the trend towards rural tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in heritage and culture and improved accessibility, and environmental consciousness. In the developed countries, this has resulted in a new style of tourism of visiting village settings to experience and live a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. This concept has taken the shape of a formal kind of Rural Tourism.

Under this scheme (MINISTRY OF TOURISM, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA’s,
RURAL TOURISM SCHEME FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT), thrust will be to promote village tourism as the primary tourism product to spread tourism and its socio-economic benefits to rural and its new geographic regions. Activities like improving the environment, hygiene, infrastructure etc. would be eligible for assistance. Apart from providing financial assistance the focus would be to tap the resources available under different schemes of Deptt. Of Rural Development, State Govts. and other concerned Departments of the Govt. of India.
 


Assistance under the Scheme: A maximum of Rs.50 lakhs/ per village would be sanctioned under this scheme. The activities listed under could be taken up.
Permission activities: The following works may be taken up under the Scheme –

• Improvement of the surroundings of the village. This would include activities like landscaping, development of parks, fencing, compound wall etc.
• Improvements to roads within the Panchayat limits. This shall not include any major road which connects the village.
• Illumination in the village.
• Providing for improvement in solid waste management and sewerage management.
• Construction of Wayside amenities.
• Procurement of equipments directly related to tourism, like Water sports, adventure sports, eco-friendly modes of transport for moving within the tourism zone.
• Refurbishment of the Monuments.
• Signages
• Reception
• Other work/activities directly related to tourism
• Tourist Accommodation

Source : Min. Of Tourism, Govt. of India *


  How we plan to achieve this 

• As of now we are in the process of submitting a proposal to the govt under the above mentioned scheme for a grant.
• Other than this our model envisages forming of 16 village eco tourism development societies in the concerned villages. A part of the funds generated by the tourism activities in the region shall be invested back into the developmental activities and infrastructure by the village eco tourism societies.
• We are also aiming at getting a lot of volunteers in the region for short term to long term projects in the villages. We have identified and started dialogues with a lot of such international organizations which send volunteers to such sustainable projects world wide.
• We are also going to involve Corporates for CSR activities in the villages. We shall be offering adventure and rural holidays to corporate groups besides organizing team building, communications, leadership etc programs to the corporate.
• We are also going to include a lot of schools and colleges in the project where in they will come to Pokhri for summer camps and also contribute towards the development of the region through innovative programs which we have designed.
• We have also planned to conduct appropriate community awareness programs through village meetings, theater groups, music performances and tourist groups. As a group passes through these villages, providing livelihood to local youth, the message of community based eco tourism development will be delivered clearly to the local community. The Voluntourist’s participation in the community awareness program can be more direct through interactive and mentoring sessions also.