Himalayan Action Research Centre (HARC) is an autonomous voluntary development organization, which aims to help the mountain people by working for their holistic, integrated and sustainable development based on the indigenous knowledge, cultural values, and local resources. It was established in 1988.HARC has been serving the cause of people-centered, people-managed, people-controlled and people-owned development process. It believes that sustainable development and good governance can be ensured only through active and effective involvement of the local community irrespective of caste, class or gender. It strives for empowering the people in ways such that they can take their own decisions regarding their progress and build a stable society that is free of social, economic and gender inequity.HARC has a special focus on women and other marginalized section of the society what makes a significant contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of their family, community and nation and yet do not get their due.

 

Profile

HARC’s Collaboration & Experience of working with GovernmentHARC has a vast experience of working with government departments, institution and agencies of last 23 years. HARC has conducted planning, monitoring, micro planning, trainings, different studies and surveys. HARC’s expertise and practical knowledge in institutional building, entrepreneurship development, organic farming and technology transfer has got recognition at various levels. HARC has been invited by Deptt of Rural Development, Directorate of Watershed Development of Uttaranchal, Diversified Agriculture Support Program of Uttaranchal, Krishi Jalagam of Uttaranchal, Swayam Sidha Project of Uttaranchal, Poverty Eradication Deptt of   Govt. Chhatisgarh, Horticulture and Agriculture Deptt of Govt. of Sikkim, Hunger Project of Rai Barailey to train their officials and project beneficiaries on group and federation formation and facilitation, entrepreneurship and micro enterprise development, organic farming etc

Thematic Area

 Livelihood Promotion through Agri BusinessOne of the core practice areas of HARC is promoting and sustaining rural livelihood for the local poor through agri and agri allied activities. HARC has developed and diversified the livelihood scale according to the needs of people and availability of resources in the region. HARC provides technical support for high quality agricultural production and business development services to local people for the promotion of agri-based enterprise.

These interventions are being carried out by forming and strengthening community based institutions and their

federations in rural areas. The collective approach has also helped in creating a niche in the local and national

market for agri and agri-based products of hill-region.

Promoting Good GovernanceHARC's concept of promoting good governance is, that the institutions formed under constitutional act

(institutions for  local self-governance) should be strengthen in such a way that they act as strong, active

and effective institutions of local development and provide a platform to citizens for articulating their

voices, concerns, priorities, problems and issues, which are directly and indirectly affecting their life. This

means, promoting transparency, responsibility and accountability among this institution by increasing the

leadership qualities, awareness, knowledge and functional skills of elected representatives as well as of

common villagers. Under this theme HARC is working for strengthening Panchyati Raj Institutions in rural

areas and urban local bodies in urban areas.

With its firm belief on collective approach to socio-economic development, HARC took initiative to

organize farming communities into self help groups, farmers’ self help groups, farmer associations,

cooperatives and producer’s company and strengthening them.

 HARC has applied two-pronged strategy for strengthening these institutions. In one strategy, HARC has

promoted new processes and activities of socio-economic development in already existing community-

based institutions formed by HARC in past. The second strategy particularly emphasized strengthening of

those groups, which are formed under various government schemes but have become inactive after the

withdrawal of scheme or program from the area.

 The technical interventions and promotion of rural technology in agriculture production and value addition

has contributed in enhancing the income of rural poor in the region. As a result of these interventions and

institution strengthening processes, families associated with village level groups and federations are

working collectively and earning income by investing their savings in farm and non-farm business

activities. Special focus was given on enhancing the skills and capacities of producers in marketing and

procurement management, which is resulting into establishing good market linkages. As a result, growers

are able to supply their agri produce and value added products to various wholesale and local market and

getting fair prices of their produce.

Gender mainstreaming at institutional as well as programmatic level is the policy of HARC. It believes that

women and men have rights to be equally benefited with the process and from results of any

development programme and action. HARC adopts special strategies and approaches for women to

increase their confidence, leadership, knowledge, skills, their access to financial opportunities,

technology, income generation options, and decision making.

 An impact assessment study was conducted by HARC on the socio-economic status of women revealed

that being into groups and cooperative have provided women immense opportunities to enhance their

leadership qualities, production management skills, negotiation and decision making power at family and

community level. Women’s access to loan and knowledge of the schemes, rules, regulations and other

procedures of the banking system has increased their confidence

HARC is also engaged in networking and liasoning with government and other institutions for raising

women issues. At the time of formulation of National Policy on Women, HARC along with other

development organizations, presented key recommendations related to the needs and priorities of hill

women. As a participant to the fourth international conference on women held at Beijing in 1995, the

issues presented by HARC were a summation of views of thousands of women from Uttarakhand. A year

later, HARC collaborated in a review of the steps taken by the government to implement its commitment

to promote women's development under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. HARC, in

collaboration with National Commission for Women, organized the Public hearing on problems faced by

Deserted Women of Uttarakhand, to sensitize the policy makers, administration and society towards the

pathetic social and economic status these women are facing. This hearing was successful in raising the

issue of deserted women at national level and was addressed in National Policy for Women. Increase

leadership qualities of women in self help groups helped women in contesting and winning the panchayat

elections. This has helped in raising women issues and concerns at decision level.

History

 Journey Started in 1988

 •     HARC was registered in 1989, under the societies registration act, 1860 and has the Society

Registration No. – 1133/1988/1989

•     HARC was registered in 1990 under, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) and the

registration No. – 136370062

Our offices/training centres

Infrastructure Available at HARC       HARC has three Training Centres, one at its field office at Naugaon, Distt. Uttarkashi,   one at its

head office at Dehra Dun and the other is in field office Kaleshwar, Distt. Chamoli. Naugaon, Dehradun and Kaleshwar Training Centres are well equipped with all training facilities like conference hall, LCD, Audio-Video devices, OHP, Television with a capacity of 40 people at a time. Naugaon Centre also has the facility of boarding/lodging.

    HARC has expertise in developing Common Facility Center (CFC) for value addition, quality control and marketing of the produce, as it has well-equipped centers in Naugaon, Distt. Uttarkashi  & in Kaleshwar, Distt. Chamoli of Uttaranchal state, from where many groups/ associations are taking benefits at their own place and running their small enterprises

    HARC has a well-equipped resource center for collection and dissemination of various types of information related to development. This centre is getting more than 60 magazines, on regular basis, on various subjects related to agriculture, horticulture, entrepreneurship development, local self governance, agri business, marketing etc. Apart from this HARC have 86 publications in the form of booklets, folders, posters & pamphlets, 230 audio & video films collection on various subjects for awareness generation. 

   HARC is very well equipped with latest information technology which is helping rural people in internet marketing and dissemination of information to framers and their federations on day to day rates of agriculture products in local and national level mandies and whole sale markets. HARC also has a strong database on information related to logistics.

    A tissue culture lab is established in Naugaon Centre of HARC with the support of Department of Science and Technology and Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology. The main objective is to improve the quality of fruit and vegetable products, better market opportunity, to make farmers accustomed to advance technology, to reduce pre and post harvest losses and mass propagation of selected best varieties. At present research and development is being done on root stocks of apple, kiwi fruit and carnation flower.Training centre (Approx. residential capacity = 30 heads) is fully equipped with: computers, OHP, LCD for audio-visual presentations, well stocked library/resource centre for reference; entertainment facilities like games (badminton, chess) & Sports and recreational facilities (VCR, VCD etc.)In addition, the Rural Business Development Centre, Naugaon and Community Facility Centre, Kaleshwar also have good infrastructure for extension activities, including latest agricultural equipments and food processing cum training centre.

Strategic Partners

Networking and Linkages of HARCS.No. Name & Address of Organization / Individual Nature of Collaboration

1.        Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA),

New Delhi

Participatory Research & Training

2.        Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),

Delhi

Collaboration Training

3.        Asian South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education

(ASPBAE), Mumbai

Environmental Education - Women (Member)

4.        International Centre for Research (ICR),

Washington DC, USA

India Fellow Program

5.        International Women (FRAU) University, IFU,

Hannover, Germany

Fellowship Program

6.       Asian Pacific Women’s Information & Network

Center, Seoul, Korea

Participation in Women Electronic Network Program

(WENT)

7.        CORDAID, The Netherlands Livelihood Promotion

8.        National Bank for Agriculture & Rural

Development

Training, Exposure & Information Exchange

9.        Rajeev Gandhi Foundation Funding Agency

10.     Uttaranchal Council of Science & Technology Funding Agency

11.     Department of Science and Technology Training, Exposure & Information Exchange

12.     District Rural Development Authority Training, Exposure & Information Exchange

13.     Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (KKV), Dapoli,

Maharashtra

Agricultural Training & Exposure

14.     International Centre for Integrated Mountain

Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal

Pro poor Value chain & supply chain development

15.     Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University,

Palampur, HP

Agricultural Training & Exposure

16.     Regional Horticulture Research Centre, Bajaura,

Kullu

Agricultural Training & Demonstration

17.     National Diary Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal

(Haryana)

Training & Exposure related to Animal Husbandry

18.     Centre for Technology Development, Sahaspur,

Dehra Dun

Fruit Processing

19.     Regional Mushroom Research Centre, Chamba,

Solan (HP)

Training & Technique

20.     Administrative Training Institute (ATI) Training & Participation

21.     Oriental Bank of Commerce, D.Dun Financial & Training on SHG

22.     Entrepreneurship Development Institute,

Ahmedabad

Training on Rural Entrepreneurship Development

23.     Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dhaulakuan,

Sirmour (HP)

Training Consultancy Services

24.     Punjab National Bank, Purola, Uttarkashi/ State

Bank of India, Naugaon, Uttarkashi

Financial & Training

25.     Horticulture Department, Uttarkashi Horticulture Training

26.     Khadi Gramodyog Board, Uttarkashi Information

27.     National Alliance for Women (NAWO), New Delhi Women Issues (Member)

28.     National Women Commission, N.Delhi Women related issues

29.     Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi Agriculture Extension Project, Policy Issues

30.     Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal, Gopeshwar,

Chamoli, Uttranchal

Partner Organisation

31.     State level Education for All Campaign Resource

Person Committee,Uttranchal

Education (Member)

32.     State level Bio-diversity Society, Uttranchal Bio-diversity (Member)

33.     State level Network for Anchor NGOs Rural Development (Member)

34.     Asia Pacific Mountain Forum Information Exchange (Member)

35.     G.B. Pant Agriculture University, Ranichauri,

Tehri Garhwal

Training, Research & Information

36.     Entrepreneurship Development Organisaton,

Lucknow, UP

Collaboration Training

37.     Rural Development Department, Uttranchal Policy Issues

38.     State Election Commission, Uttranchal Policy Issues

39.     C.D.I., Ahmedabad Training & Information

40.     Society for Mass Communication, Srinagar, Pauri

Garhwal

Partner Organization

41.     Watershed Management Unit, Rishikesh Panchayati Raj

42.     Planning Commission, Govt. of India Policy Issues

43.     Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Hort. & Forestry,

Solan (HP)

Training, Consultancy & Exposure

44.     Women & Child Dev. Organization, Uttranchal Women Policies

45.     S.M. Sehgal Foundation, New Delhi Institutional information

46.     Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Library Management

47.     Mother Dairy, New Delhi Organic Farming, Marketing Strategy, Extn.

Techniques

48.     Agriculture Science Centre, Dehradun & Rohru &

Dhaulakuan (HP)

Extension of Techniques of Vegetables & Nursery

raising

49.     Potato Research Station, Kufri (HP) Extension of Techniques of Vegetables & Nursery

raising

Board Members

 

S. NO

NAME DESIGNATION OCCUPATION Awards

1. Padam Bhusan Chandi Prasad Bhatt

President Environmentalist PADAM BHUSAN in the year 2005 by the President of India in recognition of unique individual quality.GREEN LEGEND- GREENIES ECO AWRAD-2010- on 7 December 2010 by NDTV/TOYOTA at New Delhi.

S/o. Late Sh. Ganga Ram   Bhatt

DOCTOR OF LETTERS (D.LIT ) {HONORIS CAUSA}-2010 awarded by Kumaon UniversityNainital Uttarakhand India on 22 June 2010. • • REAL HEROES- LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD-2010 by Reliance Industries Limited and IBN 18 NET, IBN LOKMAT, IBN 7, CNN-IBN Awarded during March 2010.DOCTOR OF SCIENCE (D.SC.) (HONORIS CAUSA)-2008 by Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnager, Uttarakhand, India.SWAMI RAM HUMANITARIAN AWARD-2005 is being presented for exemplary services in the eco-development with community participationSRI SHIRDI SAI BABA PURUSKAR-1999. For the exemplary work in the field of social service – Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Devasthanam, Dehradun.INDIAN FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION AWARD in 1997, C.A., USA, for contributions to environmental protection and community service.SCHOOL OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH AWARD 1990, Calcutta, in recognition of the profound contribution in the field of science. In dissemination of the fundamental scientific knowledge among different strands of the society and in application of science for human welfare.UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (UNEP) – GLOBAL 500 AWARD 1987, in recognition of outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment.PADAMSHRI AWARD in the year 1986 by the President of India in recognition of unique individual quality.HONORARY CITIZEN OF CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, 1983 – Honoured as a Ambassador of Fellowship and Goodwill for the City of Little Rock by Mayor of City of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.ARKANSAS TRAVELLER, 1983 – Honoured as Arkansas Traveller as an Ambassador of Goodwill by Governor of Arkansas, USA.RAMAN MAGSAYSAY AWARD, 1982 – for inspiring and guiding Chipko Andolan a unique movement to safe guard and wise use of the forest.

2. Mr. Mahendra S.

Secretary Environmentalist Awarded with Rashtriya Krishi Gaurav Puraskar for promoting sustainable agriculture.

KunwarS/o. Shri Kundan Singh Kunwar

Awarded with “Certificate of Green Trophy – 2012.” by Confederation of Indian Industry for efforts and great work in the areas of Environement and Ecology in the State of Uttarakhand and contributing to preserving its flora and fauna.Awarded with Certificate of Excellence “SBI Excellence Awards – 2012” for ourtstanding contribution in supporting women SHGs in association with State Bank of India.Pandit Devram Nautiyal Smriti Jan Seva Samman for the promotion of self employment among farmers of the region through agriculture, horticulture and small scale industries.

3. Mr. Uday Shankar GuptaS/o. Late Sh. Amiya Shankar Gupta

Treasurer Consultant  

4. Prof. Ajay RawatS/o. Late Thakur D.S. Rawat

Member Professor, Kumaon University, Nainital

Awarded with Right to Information Award

5. Prof. D.R. PurohitS/o. Late Sh. Urbi Datt Purohit

Member Professor, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar

Jaidep Samman – 2004Himgiri Samman – 2006Garh Gaurav Samman – 2007

6. Dr. Vandana ThaplyalW/o. Shri Praveen Thaplyal

Member State Director Awarded by Environment Hi Birding Society

7. Dr. Shailendra Kumar DimriS/o. Late Sh. J.P. Dimri

Member Ayurvedic Doctor  

Institution Building & StrenghteningIt is the firm belief of HARC that forming and strengthening the community-based institutions can be the best mechanism to sustain the development process. The peoples’ institutions are strong base for the socio-economic development and empowerment of the local people. HARC has been involved in promoting the formation and strengthening of a variety of community-based organizations for collective action and development of a sustainable self-help promotion system. HARC’s main objective in promoting the community-based institutions is to make them instrumental in providing food security, economic security, social security and ensuring sustained livelihood opportunities to the rural poor.  HARC applies a multi-dimensional approach to strengthen these people’s institutions in such a way that the local people are able to get access to and control over the natural, financial and developmental resources through these institutions.Adhering to this objective, HARC has been instrumental in the formation of various community-based organizations such as the Women Self-help Groups (SHGs), Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs), Farmers Association and Women Cooperatives.To strengthen and empower these institutions, HARC organizes training camps, workshops, educational exposure tours and Interface with technical institutions periodically in the areas of internal management of the institutions, leadership building, facilitating access to bank linkages and social security schemes, inter-loaning, increasing production and quality control and legal aspects. Training is also given in the areas of Entrepreneurship development, Marketing skills and Rural market linkages.HARC is also active in providing Institution building services to other agencies namely government, partner NGOs and private agencies in other districts of Uttarakhandl involved in group and federation formation and strengthening processes.

Features Strengthening internal management of Institutions Social Security Financial Linkages

Community Mobilization

Grass root democracy can only be strengthened when panchayat representatives and community members work together for the development of the village. Community people, who are the members of Gram Sabha and constitute the village Sansad have an important role to play  in decision-making, planning, implementation and monitoring of the development process in the village.  To mobilize the active participation of local community and CBOs in the development processes in Urban and rural areas, community mobilisation campaigns, platform for CBOs and citizen leaders are organized. The main objective of these campaigns / platform is to educate and spread awareness among citizens and community based organizations with special focus on women, dalits and other marginalised section of the society on the specific development issue and sensitise them on their responsibility and accountability for supporting reforms in governance institutions.

HARC as a Trainer

Training is an integral part of HARC activities. HARC has a strong and efficient team of trainers who are

engaged in imparting various capability building trainings to the development actors at all levels – Local

communities, Govt. officials, Voluntary organizations and Public Representatives. Through the capacity

building trainings, HARC helps build knowledge, increase awareness levels and develop the skills of

development actors to enable & empower them to understand, plan and work according to the needs and

priorities of the local people. By building the confidence, knowledge and increasing the leadership ability,

these trainings prepare the development actors to face challenges emerging from rapid changes that are

taking place in the social, economic and cultural spheres at local, national and international level.

Major Target Groups Community based Organisations, their Federations and Cooperatives Entrepreneurs and Micro-Enterprises Voluntary Organisations Policy Makers Governance Institutions (PRIs) Government Departments

Major trainings being provided by HARC: Group / Federation / Cooperative formation, facilitation and management Village Ecosystem Planning Training  Micro Planning Training  Leadership Development Training   Training of the Trainer (T.O.T.)   Training on Reforming Local Self Governance Institutions  Training on Entrepreneurship and Rural Marketing Linkages Development   Effective Communication and Facilitation Training Extension Worker Development Training

Our offices/training centres

Infrastructure Available at HARC       HARC has three Training Centres, one at its field office at Naugaon, Distt. Uttarkashi,   one at its

head office at Dehra Dun and the other is in field office Kaleshwar, Distt. Chamoli. Naugaon, Dehradun and Kaleshwar Training Centres are well equipped with all training facilities like conference hall, LCD, Audio-Video devices, OHP, Television with a capacity of 40 people at a time. Naugaon Centre also has the facility of boarding/lodging.

    HARC has expertise in developing Common Facility Center (CFC) for value addition, quality control and marketing of the produce, as it has well-equipped centers in Naugaon, Distt. Uttarkashi 

& in Kaleshwar, Distt. Chamoli of Uttaranchal state, from where many groups/ associations are taking benefits at their own place and running their small enterprises

    HARC has a well-equipped resource center for collection and dissemination of various types of information related to development. This centre is getting more than 60 magazines, on regular basis, on various subjects related to agriculture, horticulture, entrepreneurship development, local self governance, agri business, marketing etc. Apart from this HARC have 86 publications in the form of booklets, folders, posters & pamphlets, 230 audio & video films collection on various subjects for awareness generation. 

   HARC is very well equipped with latest information technology which is helping rural people in internet marketing and dissemination of information to framers and their federations on day to day rates of agriculture products in local and national level mandies and whole sale markets. HARC also has a strong database on information related to logistics.

    A tissue culture lab is established in Naugaon Centre of HARC with the support of Department of Science and Technology and Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology. The main objective is to improve the quality of fruit and vegetable products, better market opportunity, to make farmers accustomed to advance technology, to reduce pre and post harvest losses and mass propagation of selected best varieties. At present research and development is being done on root stocks of apple, kiwi fruit and carnation flower.Training centre (Approx. residential capacity = 30 heads) is fully equipped with: computers, OHP, LCD for audio-visual presentations, well stocked library/resource centre for reference; entertainment facilities like games (badminton, chess) & Sports and recreational facilities (VCR, VCD etc.)In addition, the Rural Business Development Centre, Naugaon and Community Facility Centre, Kaleshwar also have good infrastructure for extension activities, including latest agricultural equipments and food processing cum training centre.