SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

April 1998 to March 1999

SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATED MANGEMENT OF ALL RESOURCES

(SIMAR)

Village and Post : Shantipuri

Distt : Udham Singh Nagar

Uttaranchal – 263 148

India

I.Introduction

The reporting year 1998-199 is the second financial year, after registration of the society, of research and development initiatives being carried out by the Society. These activities include pre-project appraisal in Pinder valley, consultancy support services to NGOs and research and studies on vital Natural Resource Management issues.

The progress made during the year 1998-1999 on various ongoing activities and a brief account of future effort, along with the statement of accounts, is presented in this report.

II.Vision and Mission

Vision
  • To foster and fortify voluntary action at grassroots for restoration of deteriorating mountain Eco-system and boosting the dwindling economy.
  • To promote and strengthen people’s institutions at the grassroots to take care of the well-being of mountain communities and Eco-system.
Mission

To improve the quality of life and promote self-reliance of mountain community, especially the disadvantage groups- women, poor, artisan and farmer.

III.Operational status

1. Organizational status: At present the Society has following members

MembersStaff

Founder:7Permanent:1

Life:7Voluntary:4

Ordinary:1

2. Financial status

The Society is running on income of consultancy services imparted to NGOs as well as membership fees and donations received from founder members. The audited account statement of year 1998-1999 is enclosed. Seven life members have enrolled in this financial year.

Besides this, Society has secured funds for pre-project appraisal in Pinder valley from Find Your Feet (FYF), U.K. and Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD) New Delhi. The funds would be available to the Society in next financial year i.e. April 1999.

IV.Area of operation

To accomplish the above mission the Society has selected two micro-catchments in Uttarakhand Himalayas. These contiguous micro-catchments physiographically lies in the great Himalayas viz. Gomti in Bageshwar district of Kumaon and Pinder valley in Chamoli district of Garhwal region. Keeping in view the financial and managerial constraints, Society is at present focusing on Pinder valley of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand.

SIMAR perceive these micro-catchments as a laboratory to develop sustainable model of agro-industrial watershed development in Uttarakhand. Besides field programs in these micro-catchments, SIMAR is also focusing on broader regional issues that are influencing the overall development of Uttarakhand.

V.Endeavors

A.Pre-project appraisal in Pinder valley

Society has secured funds for pre-project appraisal in Pinder valley from Find Your Feet (FYF), U.K. and Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), New Delhi. The funds would be available to the Society in next financial year i.e. April, 1999.

Pre-project appraisal would be focused on conducting research and studies so as to identify vital action-oriented issues, prepare detail project proposals on vital issues and build–up rapport with local community.Two exploration tours have been organized in the project area to prepare action plan for conducting various studies.

B.Research and Studies

Society has undertaken research and studies on vital issues of Natural resource Management such as:

  • Implication of World Bank assisted Mega–projects on Natural Resource Management practices of Communities in Uttarakhand.
  • Role of agriculture in livelihood support system of Swajal villages
  • Managing agro-biodiversity for food security of Uttarakhand

C.Consultancy and NGO support services

Society is intensively engaged in establishing a good network with NGOs and is supporting them in studies, project preparation, training and implementation. The details are as follows:

  • ERA, Khundian, H.P: was supported in designing and conducting a study on status and management of Solid waste in Jawalamukhi pilgrim town in Kangra district of H.P.
  • CHIRAG, Mukteshwar, Nainital: was supported by imparting training, conducting trial & demonstration and dissemination of information to Swajal Village Communities under “women Development Initiatives” component of Swajal project in Batch –II villages. Various lectures were also delivered during VWSC training to facilitate software planning in Batch-III villages.
  • GRAS, Lohaghat, Champavat: was supported in conducting farming system study and preparation of project for on-farm income generation in citrus belt of Lohaghat block.

VI.Follow up activities

To enhance the outreach and quality of endeavors in 1999-2000 the society intends to undertake the following actions:

  1. Concept paper proposed to be submitted in 1999-2000

Society plans to undertake following research and developmental efforts so as to foster on-farm and off-farm income generation activities in the project area:

  • Development of Eco-tourism to augment the income of the farming community and amplify the employment opportunities for local youth.
  • To understand the status of food security and identifying avenues to boost the food security in impoverished belts of Pinder valley.
  • Appraisal of technologies for sustainable management of Natural resources
  1. Networking to secure financial support

Society is networking with various donor agencies and individuals for the following support:

  • Core support for staff and administrative cost of the Society
  • Publication of studies on Watershed Development, Rajaji National Park and Food security status in Lohaghat block of Champavat district in Uttarakhand.
  • Enrolment of at least 5 life members from various fields.

3.To augment the database of Pinder valley following actions would be taken up:

  • Collection of secondary literature and primary information
  • Rapport building with local community
  • Topical studies on important issues such as Medicinal Plants, Natural Resource Management, On-farm Income Generation etc
  • Opening of field offices at Debal and Gwaldam.

4. Enlisting the society in mailing list of prominent agencies engaged in Watershed Development, Natural Resource Management, Medicinal Plants, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Eco-tourism etc so as to improve the quality of research and studies taken up by SIMAR.

Vii. Transaction and Income

To carry out smooth transactions in the coming years Bank account has been opened at State Bank of India, Haldwani. Society has also applied for exemption for income tax on donations received from the donors under 80-G and the same will be secured in next financial year.

Details of Income–Expenditure, Balance sheet and Receipt and Payment account is enclosed in the attachment.