ASKOT-ARKOT Abhiyan Yatra-2004

                                                                                                      Courtsy: PAHAR

PAHAR (People's Association for Himalayan Area Research organizes ) organizes Askot-Arakot Abhiyan Yatra in the month of March after every 10 years. This yatra is being organized since 1974 . Previous Yatra were organized in March -1974, 1984 & 1994.

 

This year the Yatra started on 25th May 2004 .One of our group member Chandan Dangi is also participating in this yatra.

 

This Abhiyan is a unique participatory exercise for the scientific understanding of mountain communities under which an extensive survey of nearly 350 villages of Uttarakhand located in various altitudes will be done. This year the Abhiyan will pass through 16 alpine pastures, 20 Kharaks (high altitude cattle sheds), 15 zones and 3 valleys affected by earthquake and landslide, 8 initial regions of Chipko movement, 15 Chattees (ancient pilgrimage camping sites) which are now in ruining state, 5 Himalayan pilgrimage routes, 5 tribal zones and 3 regions of Indo-Tibetan trade activities.

 

During this Abhiyan PAHAR intend to study the post independence change, especially in last 3 decades. 

 

They will be broadly focussing on-

 

The society-   Its culture, cast structure, cast conflicts, gender, weaker sections of society, crime issues etc.

 

The economy– Patterns of economic activity, migrational economy, cottage industry, forest & non forest produces Indo-Tibet trade, impact of new economic policy, globalisation & liberalisation etc.

 

The resource– Status of land, water, forest, wild life, human resource and management etc.

 

Traditional knowledge systems

 

Health & education

 

Tourism

 

Governance– Panchayati raj, women’s participation etc.

 

Environmental scenario– Deforestation, mining, dams, erosion, landslides etc.   

    

This extraordinary programme  will help us understanding the dynamics of Himalayan society and environment. Needless to say that it is a voluntary programme entirely based on people’s support therefore participants are expected to arrange subsistence support in their own.

 

First Report of Yatra                     Second Report                

Some Photographs                      Report in Hindi (pdf format)

 

Text Courtsy : Shree Chandan Dangi