A. Society for Promotion of Wastelands Debelopment (SPWD), New Delhi (1990 - 2003)

SPWD is a national NGO working in natural resource management since 1982. It is recognised nationally and internationally for documenting, arresting and reversing degradation of natural resources in various parts of India by involving village communities and NGOs. Also acknowledged are SPWD’s abilities to effect national policy changes based on its field level learnings (e.g. in Joint Forest Management and Watershed Development). 

Was Coordinator of SPWD's Dehradun Office for the Himalayan region. My achievements include the following :

1. Executing Natural Resources Management Projects

Coordinator of a project for Uttaranchal Himalayas supported by the Department for International Development (DFID), Government of U.K. consisting of following components:

a. River Valley Assessments

Valley level studies on livelihood strategies of village people in five river valleys, one in each montane physiographic zone of Uttaranchal Himalayas:

• Trans Himalayas - Dhauli Ganga, Chamoli 

• High Himalayas - Pinder, Chamoli 

• Mid Himalayas Garhwal - Jalkur, Tehri 

• Mid Himalayas Kumaon - Kutcheragad, Almora 

• Siwaliks - Hiyunl, Pauri 

Designed and developed Model Projects in each of the above river valleys for sustainable natural resource management through community organisations with a focus on enterprise development. 

b. Grant Management and support to NGOs on NRM projects

i. NGOs supported for NRM Projects in Western Himalayas

• Laxmi Ashram, Kausani, District Almora, Uttaranchal. 

• Society for Integrated Management of All Resources, District Chamoli, Uttaranchal. 

• CHIRAG, Mukteshwar, District Nainital, Uttaranchal. 

• Society for Environmental & Rural Awakening, District Kangra (Himachal). 

• SPEED, Hiunl Valley, District Pauri Garhwal, Uttaranchal.

ii. NGOs supported for Projects in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

• Chaitanya, Lepakshi, District Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh). 

• Youth For Action, District Mehboobnagar (Andhra Pradesh).

• ARTIC, District Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh). 

• Taralabalu Rural Development Foundation, Sirigere, Dist. Chitradurga (Karnataka).

2. Capacity Building of NGOs in NRM

Led intensive Capacity Building Programme for selected NGOs in key natural resource management interventions in the Himalayas such as water harvesting tanks, polyhouses, compost pits, spring sanctuaries, fodder conservation & development.

3. Regional Policy Consultations 

Organised Western Himalayan region level consultations on critical issues to guide the natural resource management policies in the newly formed state of Uttaranchal and other mountain states. Following events were organised:

• Designing and running a Public Debate on Development policy for Uttaranchal.

• Training Workshop on Fodder Promotion Technologies (Spring sanctuaries, fodder cultivation & conservation and silage) for 11 NGOs of Uttaranchal, May 2001.

• Training Workshop on Agriculture Promotion Technologies (LDPE Tanks, Compost Pits and Polyhouses) for 20 NGOs of Uttaranchal, May 2000.

• International Workshop on "Enterprise development through Natural Resources Management in Himalayas" in collaboration with Centre for Development Studies, UP Academy of Administration.

• Regional Consultation on “Success Stories in Natural Resource Management in

• Western Himalayas- Lessons for Uttaranchal”, Feb 2001.

• Regional Consultation on “Sustainable Forest Management in Uttaranchal”, Feb 2000.

• Regional Consultation on "Water in Western Himalayas". Supported by Ford Foundation. January, 1999.

• Lecture-debate series on "Nature of Development Policy for proposed Uttaranchal State" by Radha Bhatt, foremost Gandhian worker of Uttaranchal.

• Lecture -debate on "Nature of Development Policy for proposed Uttaranchal State" by Shekhar Pathak, Editor PAHAR and prominent thinker on Uttaranchal.

• Regional workshop on "Forests and Forest-people linkages in Northeast Himalayas" at Shillong with prominent Academicians, Activists, NGOs, Forest Dept. from all seven North-eastern states, 1994.

• Regional workshop of major NGOs on "Experience sharing on major problems and their solutions in UP Hills", 1992.

• Set up a network of NGOs for Watershed Development in Uttaranchal (called "Sambandh") with IGSSS, Dehradun.

• Workshop on "Concepts in agro ecosystem planning and management" for Taralabalu Rural Development Foundation and people of 11 villages of Chitradurga district in Karnataka, 1991.

4. Community owned Microhydel 

Planned and executed Uttaranchal’s first community-owned Microhydel at Village Malari on Indo-Tibet Border for producing power for enterprise development. Model accepted by Government of Uttaranchal. Click Here for overview document.

B. Swedish International Development Agency, New Delhi

Consultant to Sida for following Evaluations:

1. Project Evaluation and Design of Project Logframe for Tarun Bharat Sangh (2003)

Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) has built 4500 water harvesting structures in Alwar, Rajasthan with local community and has changed the hydrology of the district. TBS was awarded Magsaysay in 2002. Achievements:

• Designed and conducted a Logical Framework Workshop with TBS Core Team.

• Facilitated setting up of M & E systems.

• Programme Strategy and Project proposal prepared for coming five years based on LFA Workshop. Proposal accepted by Sida.

• Evaluated the strengths, weaknesses, and livelihood impact of the water management work done by TBS over the last 10 years.

• Evaluation Report published by Sida and is available at this link

2. Project Evaluation of Tarun Bharat Sangh (1989)

Evaluation of TBS’s work in water harvesting in Alwar, Rajasthan for Sida, New Delhi. Major achievements:

• Evaluated strengths, weaknesses & livelihood impact of TBS’ water management work.

• Detailed out areas where the programme could be strengthened.

C. Oxfam India Trust, Bangalore  (2003-04)

Consultant & Coordinator, Oxfam India’s South India Water Resource Management Programme supported by Sida on resource degradation, access & equity issues in rural, tribal and urban locales in 6 river valleys in South India - Arkavati (Karnataka); Chitravati, Musi, Sarda (Andhra Pradesh); Gundar (Tamil Nadu) and Palar (Kerala). Achievements:

• Prepared Vision Document for Oxfam India’s IWRM programme in South India.

• Designed Oxfam India’s Research Strategy for the programme and presented it at Stockholm Water House for future international technical and research partnerships.

• Prepared Annual Plans, MOUs and contracts for agencies/ individuals concerned with the project for Oxfam India and monitored progress of work by all concerned.

• Presented paper on linkages between Microhydels and Organic Farming for “National Workshop on Organic Farming for Mountain States” by Uttaranchal Government.