Programs of GRAMYA

Environmental problems are, at their core, social challenges. It is through human interaction with natural resources that both degradation and regeneration occur. We firmly believe that collective community action can address such issues more effectively than purely technocratic solutions. In this spirit, we are establishing a community stewardship initiative to conserve Manpai Bugyal, a high-altitude meadow in the Uttarakhand Himalaya.

The establishment of Janta Ucchattar Madhyamik Vidyalaya as a community stewardship initiative in 1998 stands as a successful model of educational empowerment. The academic year 2024–25 marked the school’s 25th anniversary. Over this period, the school has provided secondary education to 357 students from Dumak and neighboring areas. Of these, 203 students have successfully completed their secondary education. Notably, every graduate has chosen to pursue senior secondary studies elsewhere, demonstrating a strong commitment to continued learning. 

We strongly strive to integrate environmental education in everyday life. We believe that this is an effective way to support our government's global commitment to reduce carbon emission by bringing changes in behaviour of people. 

We therefore create space and platform for school children and community members to learn, think and act. Our work goes beyond integration of environmental education into formal education and allows students to gather evidence and experience nature and observe natural phenomena using equipment and traditional ecological knowledge.

The degradation of oak forests due to over exploitation in the vicinity of forest depending villages in the western Himalayan region of India and climate change is a serious cause of concern. Some recent studies found that degradation of these forests have adverse impact on local ecological services, wildlife, birds and groundwater recharge, soil erosion and retreating of Himalayan glaciers 

With the help of local schools and Van Panchayats (Village forest councils) we have been organizing events to plant oak trees in the community governed forests or on other degraded landmass. Through conservation we strive to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Indian Himalayan region such as Eco Tourism, Horticulture, Food processing and Village Industries