NITI Aayog Launches 5 Thematic Reports on Sustainable Development in Indian Himalayan Region

NITI Aayog has released 5 Thematic Reports on Sustainable Development in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) recognizing uniqueness of Himalayas & challenges for sustainable development.

NITI Aayog Launches 5 Thematic Reports
  • These reports list challenges in all defined 5 thematic areas & discuss significance, challenges, ongoing actions & future roadmap.

Background on Formation of 5 Thematic Reports on Sustainable Development in Indian Himalayan Region

These reports were prepared by 5 working groups which were set up by NITI Aayog in June 2017 to prepare roadmap for actions in 5 thematic areas that are quite significant for Himalayas.

  • Inventory & Revival of Springs in Himalayas for Water Security
  • Sustainable Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region
  • Transformative Approach to Shifting Cultivation
  • Strengthening Skill & Entrepreneurship Landscape in Himalayas
  • Data & Information for Informed Decision Making.

These working groups were constituted after NITI Aayog recognized that Himalayan Mountains require specific solutions for resilience building that address socio-economic & environmental challenges in mountain setting.

Key Features of 5 Thematic Reports

Inventory and Revival of Springs in Himalayas for Water Security

  • Nearly 30% of springs, crucial to water security of people in Himalayas are drying & 50% have reported reduced discharge.
  • There is need for spring mapping & revival by using 8 steps protocol that must be taken up across Himalayan States in phased manner.
  • It calls for setting up of Mission on Spring Water Management in Himalayas.

Sustainable Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region

  • Himalayan Tourism is growing annually at 6.8% & has created huge challenge related to solid waste, water, traffic, loss of bio-cultural diversity etc.
  • Projected arrival of tourists will be more than double by 2025.
  • Urgent actions are needed to address issues of waste management & water crisis.
  • Concept of carrying capacity must be applied to all major tourist destinations.
  • Besides tourism sector standards must be implemented & monitored.
  • Performance based incentives must be approved for states.
  • Himalayan Authority must be launched for coordinated & holistic development of entire Himalayan region.
  • “Himalaya Calling: An Awareness to Action Campaign” must be launched as people՚s movement.

Transformative Approach to Shifting Cultivation

  • Thousands of households in north eastern states, continue to practice shifting cultivation i.e.. slash & burn (Jhum cultivation) which needs to be addressed in view of ecological, food & nutritional security.
  • There is urgent need for assessment of nature & extent of shifting cultivation area.
  • There is need for improved policy coherence, strengthened tenurial security & improved access to related programs for transform shifting cultivation.
  • National Mission⟋Program on Transforming Shifting Cultivation in North Eastern States must be set up.

Strengthening Skill and Entrepreneurship Landscape in Himalayas

  • Himalayan states face severe challenge of unskilled workforce & migration of youths.
  • There is urgent need to strengthen skill & entrepreneurship workforce in Himalayan region w⟋required focus on identified priority sectors where mountains have advantage, along w⟋investment in trainers, assessors & setting up training centers w⟋industry partnership.
  • There is need to set up demand driven network of skill & entrepreneurship development Centers in Himalayan States along w⟋consortium of institutions of high learning for mountain specific research & technology.

Data⟋Information for Informed Decision Making

  • Himalayan states face challenges related to data availability, data authenticity, compatibility, data quality, validation, user charges.
  • It needs to be addressed for informed decision making at diff. levels of governance. Central Data Management Agency for Himalayas must be set up to provide data w⟋high fidelity scenario.
  • It will help in addressing data sharing, access, authenticity & comparability issues.
  • It should be linked with Hindukush Himalaya Monitoring & Assessment program (HIMAP) .
  • Central Data Management Agency for Himalayan Database must be set up at GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development.

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021