The story about Chakmas, an indigenous tribe from Bangladesh, is truly a sad one. A grim reminder of our inhuman approach towards progress and development. In 1963 their native land in the Chitagonong hills was completely submerged under water, falling under the catchment area of a hydel dam. Displaced from their homeland they were compelled [...]
Archive for the ‘Community development’ Category
Chakmas – Neither here nor there
Posted in Community development, tagged arunachal, chakma, namdapha, Singpho on September 3, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Maozigendri experience
Posted in Community development, tagged Manas on March 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »
This is a continuation of my previous post regarding MMES. For those who haven’t please read that post first
I left for Assam within a week of the tragic terror attacks in Mumbai. This naturally got my family and friends jittery as Assam itself did not have a very good reputation for being a safe place. [...]
Manas Maozigendri – A case study for community based conservation
Posted in Community development, Environment, tagged biodiversity conservation, bodo, ecotourism, Manas on March 30, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Conservation of natural biodiversity is increasingly becoming a challenge in our insatiably materialistic age. Pristine forests are being indiscriminately hacked causing their helpless inhabitants to vanish from the face of the earth. To tackle the issue of wildlife conservation there are many scientific organizations. But seldom does one see high levels of zeal from a [...]
A trial trek to Yambong Singalila
Posted in Community development, Sikkim, Travel, tagged Kangchendzonga, Naya Patal, singalila, trek, Yambong on December 1, 2008 | 1 Comment »
‘Permit Blues’ is what I was suffering from after three wasteful days in Gantok. Getting my KNP permit from the Forest Department was proving to be more frustrating that I had anticipated , aggravated further by a bandh and the half yearly bank closing. Like a pawn on the chess board I was shuffled from [...]
Trekking with a difference
Posted in Community development, Travel, tagged chongri, ecotourism, Kangchendzonga, nambu, sangkhola, sikkim, trekking, yuksom on September 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.
– John Muir
Most of us trekkers don’t bother too much about [...]
Lachen site launch
Posted in Community development, tagged Lachen on September 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
One of my tasks during the Lachen project was to write content for the website and the guidebook. The website which has now been completed has come out really well. All thanks to the persistent efforts put by Nima and the designing team for this great website. The URL of the website is pretty long [...]
Lachen – Part II
Posted in Community development, Sikkim, Travel, tagged Alexandra David-Neel, Dewthang, Lachen, Lama Angden, Lashar, Tarum, Thangu, Zachu valley on July 19, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Was really glad to be back in Lachen, after spending nine long and boring days in rainy Gantok. As luck would have it the weather in Lachen was much better, it being bright and sunny and with slopes having more chlorophyll induced grass and plants due to the melting snow on top. Everything seemed to [...]
Short trip to Kitam – Sumbuk
Posted in Community development, Travel, tagged kitam, sumbuk on July 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It seems to me that every village in Sikkim wants a share in the tourism pie, which resulted in our short trip to the villages of Kitam and Sumbuk for checking the feasibility of tourism over there. Kitam, which is around 12kms. from Namchi at an altitude of 2200 feet, has very recently [...]
Lachen – Part I
Posted in Community development, Sikkim, Travel, tagged dzumsa, Lachen, pipon, sikkim on June 7, 2008 | 6 Comments »
With impatient anxiousness I was waiting for the helicopter to land at the Bhaku helipad, for I was finally leaving to Lachen for my project. I was introduced to the UNDP official Mayura, and another consultant Raj Basu, who were going to be my accomplices on the journey. The initial part of the drive is [...]
