Himalayan Institute for Rural Awakening (HIRA) is a grass root level voluntary organization, which is devoted for economic & social development in its working area. In all our programmes, we tried to reach the last person of the society and in this process we make them our partner. The reason for the success and acceptance among the people is the participation of general public (depressed, poors, ladies). The deprived part of the society is not able to participate in the social development due to their lack of knowledge and awareness. Our effort is to awaken and encourage such persons. For this purpose we are organizing different types of trainings, workshops, demonstrations, exposure visits etc. In our programme we have taken active cooperation from intellectuals, government officers, technical people and other community based orgnisations.Good governance, education, health, skill training, panchayats empwerment, livelihood promotion are our thrust area, wherein we are engaged. In all our programme women, poor and depressed people of the society are our focused group. With support of public, efforts of HIRA is going on regularly.

Ongoing projects

1. Spice Promotion: -We have stared this programme in 10 villages of Yamkeshwar (Distt. Pauri) with support of NABARD. In this programme we have taken the villages where ginger, garlic, turmeric, and chilly are being produced. Purpose of this programme is to produce better quality and quantity of these products, through organizing and training of farmers. In this programme we are working with approx. 200 farmers. Farmers groups have been formed at village level and a strong federation of farmers have been formed at block level. With support of people, this federation is trying to increase the income of farmers. Farmers of Kothar village have sold their ginger of Rs. 04 lakh in one day with support of this federation and farmers group. It has never happened in the past in this area. It became possible only due to farmers organization. In this programme farmers are getting different types of technical training as Vermi Composting, Polythene Water Harvesting tanks, Poly Tunnels are also being demonstrated in these villages. Now farmers are more aware and skilled.For the next year, we have planned to install a small processing and packing unit where these spices can be processed and packed. These spices will be sold in the market with a good brand name. Through this activity people will get employment at local level and their income will also improve.

2. Watershed Development Programme :- Watershed development programme has been stared in 10 villages of Dugadda block (Pauri) this year. Approx. 1000 hectares land of this area has been proposed for treatment work. In the first phase of this programme we are planning for treatment of 100 hectares land and rest of the land will be treated in the next phase. For this Programme, farmers and public representatives of this area were trying since a long period and they have contacted our organization also. Proposal for this area was submitted to NABARD and they gave us acceptance in principal. In the beginning of this programme people of the area done SHRAMDAN work for two days, after that 20 person went to Pabou (Village) for exposure visit and see the watershed work done by NABARD. Now we are preparing detail project for capacity building phase. There will be a good impact on barren land and water sources of this area after implementation of this programme.

3. Target Intervention Project :- As we Know HIV/ AIDS is a very big problem and spreading very rapidly in the world. People of the whole world are fighting against it. Despite that it is spreading very rapidly. India Govt. has also launched so many programme to control this disease. It is the duty of the society to help the Govt. in this programme. After under standing our social responsibility we have started this programme in Roorkree town of Distt. Haridwar, with support of National Aids Control Organization (NACO) and Uttrakhand State Aids Control Society (USACS). We are identifying high risk group people of Roorkee town and near by area and working with them. Purpose of this programme is to aware and alert maximum people on this issue. Under this programme we are telling people about reasons of spreading AIDS, safety measures and possible treatments. We are paying more attentions on high risk group people. We are arranging blood test of HRG and observing that are they infected with HIV/AIDS or not. If they are found HIV positive, we are arranging treatment with support of USACS.In this programme we are getting full support of people representatives, Govt. officials and public.

4. Urban Sector Development Programme :-This year we have worked in urban sector with support of Uttrakhand Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (UUSDIP) and Mott Macdonald Pvt. Ltd. (Dehradun). Through this programme we have done Census Survey and Public Consultation (Focus Groups Discussion) for Roorkee and Dehradun town. Under UUSDIP scheme water and sewerage line is being installed /changed in both the towns. During this work, there will be too many practical problems. The purpose of these public consultancies was to understand these problems of people, to take their suggestions and inform them about the scheme. We have done 51 (fifty one) group discussions in both towns. In these discussions every sections of the society as minority, women, people representatives, labour, businessmen, hawkers etc. were involved. In the same way it was tried to access that how much and what types of losses will be there to affected persons during laying down the water and sewerage pipe line. This exercise was done through a prescribed format. People were informed about all the details of the programme and asked their support in this programme.

5. System of Crop Intensification: -      As we know food security is a burning problem of the world. On the other hand land for agriculture and water for irrigation is reducing day by day. In this situation there is pressure on farmers to take more production from less water, less seed and less land. System of crop intensification is alternate way for this. Many organizations and Govt. is working on this subject. With support of Dorabji Tata Trust Bombay and PSI Dehradun, We are working on SCI in Disst. Haridwar since last two years. This year we have worked with 250 farmers on paddy crop and 200 farmers on wheat crop. Under this programme 20.7 hectare land was covered. Purpose of this programme was to aware the farmers about this technology and take more production from less seed, less water and less land. This system was very successful and average production of farmers increased by 1 ½ fold. Gradually farmers are getting attraction towards this system.

6. Skill Development training :-   We are organizing so many skill development training for untrained dropout youths minority and women, since last many years. Extending this work, this year also we have started training for dropouts youth and women on different trades with support of FVTRS Bangalore. These training were started in October 2010. Details of them are as under:-

S.No.

Trade

Numbers

Male/ Female

Place

1
Beautician 30 female Paukhal (Dugadda-Pauri)
2
Steaching & Embroidery 30 female (Dugadda-Pauri)
3
Electrician 30 Male Paukhal (Dugadda-Pauri)
4
Driving 40 male Rishilkesh(Dehradun)

In all the above mentioned training, school dropouts and poor people were given preference. For beautician, electrician and tailoring & embroidery training was given for four months by expert trainers while for driving they get training from Uttranchal Driving School Rishikesh for one month. After the training, maximum youths are engaged in self employment and they are earning better. 7. Environment Awareness Campaign :-     Environment Awareness is the need of this time through which we can save our environment. We have always contributed for this work. This year National “Environment Awareness Campaign 2010-11” was done in Baghelgaon of yamkeshwar block (Distt. Pauri). Focus of this programme was to aware people about environment and biodiversity. Pamphlets, posters and nukkad natak were arranged for this purpose. Plantation work was also done in this village. This programme is being organized by us from last many years.

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