|
Parvatiya Jan Kalyan Sansthan
|
|
| Research and Development |
PJKS is concentrating on research activities in order to explore the
problems prevalent in the hill society. It has undertaken a number of studies
on diverse subjects, which gave insight on the prevalent reasons for social,
economic and ecological vulnerability in the hills. Some research activities
worth mentioning here are - a.) study related to Watershed Development, b.)
research and household survey pertaining to the RCH project, c.) detailed report
and study of high-altitude medicinal plants.
Resource degradation, low levels of awareness and poor participation in decision-making processes are some of the issues that have been identified through studies. Subsequently, PJKS has taken up specific programmes to respond to these issues and for improving the prevalent scenario of vulnerability and development unsustainability .
The following are the past as well as current research initiatives of the organisation:
|
|
Research on watershed management
As a follow-up to its preliminary field research, during 1993-95, PJKS
took up a study to explore in greater detail the reasons for ecological
unsustainability in the Tehri Garhwal district being manifested in water
scarcity, frequent landslides, soil erosion and depleting forest cover. These resulted
in adverse socio-economic impacts in terms of low agricultural productivity ,
economic depravation, and increased workload on women. Basing on the analysis
of the field findings that the organisation started an Integrated Watershed
Management Programme in
The Bhilangana block of Tehri Garhwal and blocks Pabo, Thailisand, Birokhal and Pauri
of Pauri District.
In the year 1994, PJKS
took up a study to assess the potential and prospects of cultivation of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) in the hills. The rationale of this study
was that if MAP cultivation is found to be viable then this could result in
higher incomes for the farmers, and can also lead to conservation of the MAPs in
the wild. It was also expected that MAP cultivation would result in better
health for the communities through the revival of traditional systems of
medicines. Field-testing of several species at various altitudes was done and
some of the species having high potential for cultivation were identified. It
was also found that a majority of the population was not aware about the high
returns from MAP cultivation and in some cases there were also a misconception that medicinal plants could
not be “grown” in the fields. Moreover, another important finding was that
there was an absolute lack of germplasm material for MAP cultivation. This
study laid the foundation for the subsequent programmes of PJKS aimed towards
promotion of MAP cultivation and revival of traditional systems of medicines.
PJKS has also been involved in the documentation of the knowledge of the
Vaidhyas (traditional medicinal practitioners) and then disseminating this
information amongst the community.
