When I was planning to go for a short break during this summer holidays, I never thought that it would be one of my best "green" holidays so far!!! had gone to Kausani, a glorious hill station in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Through the undulating mountains and the heaving gorges, I roamed around by foot. The sound of the unnamed water fall or the totally unheard sound of the unknown birds are the few which have engraved in my mind during these days?I tasted the local Kumauni food which is cherished by me?

One day I went to the markets to look for some local products which I can take with me as a momento. I was told that there is a place known as 'Umang' which means 'Hope' in Hindi. I was very intrigued by the place in which this was located because it was far away from the usually-very-busy market.

I later discovered that the shop was actually an NGO-run shop where you could buy pickles, jams, jellies and spices that were only locally produced in a piece of land that was right behind the shop. The variety was mind-boggling and the quality was just as good as you would expect. I bought 2 jellies just for myself. While looking at the products, I was talking to the lady who was at the shop at the time. She told me that this NGO had actually changed their lives in the way that they found a new reason to life and that they could earn something as a result of the shop. They have been given various accolades that come to show that they really are a brilliant NGO.

On further research on their activities I came across the following on UMANG:

Degradation of Himalayan forests, essential for the support of mountain farming systems has negatively impacted traditional food security.  Many farming families can no longer support themselves from their land, forcing males to migrate to urban centres in search of work.    In response to these problems, the group has been active with a Livelihoods Improvement Program to generate supplementary incomes through on and off-farm ventures. 

Mahila Umang Samiti was set up in 2001 by Grassroots women. Today over 2500 women in rural Kumaon are engaged in improving the quality of life for their families through the sales of hand knitted woollens, fruit preserves & pickles, natural honey, beeswax candles and natural spices. 

Each and every business activity is directly controlled by the producer-groups. They own the assets and all are equal shareholders of the business. This arrangement enables the greatest portion of the consumer?s rupee to reach the producer.  Umang distributes an annual bonus to all members proportionate to their individual contribution to the business.  At Grassroots we believe the promotion of pro-poor business ventures in this way helps to balance the economy, ecology and equity concerns for rural communities.

It was an overall amazing experience on green activities which is associated with sustainability and overall development of rural people living in a difficult zone.  I came back to Dubai as an enriched and refreshed person with an assurance to myself to go on such green holidays more frequently!!

Lovely landscape of Kaushani..

The tasty local Kumaoni Food...