E-book published - DMS-HIMALAYA

In June 2013, high-intensity rain and cloudbursts in the Indian State of Uttarakhand in the Himalayas triggered a series of hydrologic and geologic disasters, including glacial lake outbursts, landslides and flash floods, affecting more than 2,036,000 people and leading to one of the worst catastrophes of the decade. 

One year on, as the country still grapples with the calamitous event and its aftermath, in DMS-Himalaya, Banerji, Ipe and Basu through first-hand observations, vividly recapture the cascading combination disaster that occurred and the event trajectory. The book also examines the response process to the disaster, what worked and what did not. The learnings, from pre-event stages to post-event response, are drawn out with consideration of the complex interlinked issues related to disaster response in remote locations with fragile ecologies, and have been woven into a fortified disaster management system for the Himalayas.

View the book

Recommendations for State & Non-State Development Collaborations

Although the past nine years have shown a healthy movement towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the disappointments and gaps indicate the areas in need of attention during the post-2015 period. Traditionally neglected and excluded groups on the social, economic and geographic margins have remained deprived of the benefits of development. Inequities have grown and the festering dissatisfaction has contributed to violence and conflicts, in turn eroding the gains made. These inequities are often perpetuated by local political structures, indicating the critical need for a rights-based approach and an inclusive agenda within nations after 2015.

Pragya highlighted these concerns and its recommendations on State & Non-State Development Collaborations in its statement submitted to UN ECOSOC High-level segment: annual ministerial review - 2014 session. (View full statement)

"Inspiring Change"

Members of Research & Advocacy Team & Communication & Engagement Team participated in the event "Inspiring Change" held at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India, on 10th March 2014. The event was jointly organised by EU Delegation to India and UN Women. The inaugural session was graced by presence of dignitaries from various embassies. Dr. João Cravinho, EU Ambassador to India & Bhutan, mentioned an MoU between UN Women & EU in his opening speech. Dr. Rada Boric from Croatia gave the Keynote address and spoke about women's rights scenario during wars. She mentioned the steps that Croatia had to take towards women's empowerment before being included in EU. She also spoke about the struggle & solidarity of women in her country & in neighbouring countries. She has interacted with several stakeholders in India and finds the challenges to be similar. She spoke of instances from Norway where women's empowerment led to increased profits. Spoke about her experiences as part of EU women's lobby.

Ms. Kamla Bhasin, Dr Rebecca Tavares (UN Women) advocated for a stand alone Gender Equality goal in Post 2015 SDGs. India has recently supported this idea. This was followed by a launch of an EU film and a panel discussion featuring Ms. Indira Jaisingh, Archana Sardana (sky jumper & deep sea diver), Kanchan Gaba (lawyer & scout, visually impaired) and Anju Pandey (UN Women). A UN Women Report that captured the voices of women across India, was also launched. The session on CSR, chaired by Ms. Sonia Srivastava (CSR Head, Intel) focused on how the companies deal with their women staff and their needs & challenges. The event also featured a series of success stories on women empowerment from rural India as an exhibit.

Mountain biodiversity sessions

Pragya acted as the knowledge partner for the Mountain Biodiversity thematic sessions for '7th CMS VATAVARAN: International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum’ that was held from 30th January to 3rd February, 2014, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, India.

The event featured a kaleidoscope of more than 150 films, talks, deliberations, contemporary discourses, eco-trips, film store, music festival, green haat and organic food festival. The thematic sessions explored various issues and solutions regarding conservation of mountain biodiversity. Community leaders that Pragya is working with, from various Himalayan districts, participated in the discussions and shared their views. The event buzzed with the traditional folk dance & music from Nubra Valley of Ladakh, as Pragya facilitated one of the dance groups from the district to perform at the event.

(View photographs from the event)

Rehabilitation work for flood hit Himalayan villages

From the onset of its relief operations for the flood affected Himalayan districts in June 2013, Pragya staff has been involved in carrying out area specific need assessments, which helped in formulation of effective rehabilitation strategies with inputs from key stakeholders. Pragya is in the midst of implementing its rehabilitation plan in the four affected districts viz. Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. The interventions are spread across various sectors to reinstate people most affected by the floods. Click here for more on Pragya's work related to flood rehabilitation in Uttarakhand.

Regular health camps & psycho-social counselling sessions are being conducted in flood-affected villages by competent & qualified personnel. Pre-fabricated toilets (in order to ensure quicker installations) are being set up for households that have suffered severe damage to their houses. Covered water storage tanks with filtration units are being provided to the communities for ensuring safe potable water. A cadre of youth volunteers has been created in the flood affected districts as a Helpline to spread awareness and assist people to avail newly introduced schemes and provisions for flood-affected people/communities in the state, facilitating them with necessary paper work and procedures. Pragya is also working to ensure livelihood security for the households that are severely affected in terms of livelihoods due to the flashfloods in Uttarakhand. Households are being provided material support and technical assistance for setting up suitable low-cost greenhouses, along with vegetable seeds & saplings, farm tools etc., for undertaking cultivation of short-gestation, high-value vegetable crops for sale. Pragya is in process of initiating an in-depth research for customised livelihood solutions for the flood affected families.

Call for papers on Gender, Governance and Agriculture

Abstracts are invited for a special issue of International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology. Last date for submission of abstracts is: 28th February 2014. Guest Editor for this issue: Gargi Banerji, Pragya. Once shortlisted, the full papers would be due by 30th April 2014. (View the full announcement)

Cultivation packages for Kenyan farmers

As part of its initiative to conserve and ensure the sustainable utilisation of the medicinal & aromatic plants of East Africa, Pragya Kenya has developed training manuals for cultivation of 6 prioritised medicinal plants and necessary post harvest procedures. Training manual and awareness pamphlets have also been developed in Swaihili language for grassroots conservation planning workshops.