Naropa Fellowship Programme started in September last year. By the end of six months many projects have been incubated for solving the issues in Ladakh and upper Himalayan regions. Brainfeed Higher Education Plus brings excerpts from the interviews
AGROW
Members
Jigmet Singge – BSc (Delhi University) | Leh
Nischita – BArch (Visvesvaraya Technological University) | Bangalore
Akshata Pradhan – BSc (North Eastern Hill University), MSc (Bangalore University) | Shillong
Why did you take this up as your Live Action Project?
Agrow, as a team, has members coming in from different geographical regions and educational backgrounds. During the brainstorming sessions at the fellowship, we realized that all of us wanted to work in the Agriculture sector. During the field visits, we found out that the Ladakhi families are self-sufficient and we wanted to provide the same independence to the farmers throughout the year. This led to the inception of the Agrow greenhouse.
RENEWABLE LIFE
Members
Kunga Bodh – BE (Kurukshetra University) | Spiti
Sushant Guleria – BE (Sardar Patel University), M Tech (PEC University of Technology) | Mandi
What are the problems faced by people over there, which inspired you for taking up this project?
Villages in Ladakh and Spiti regions are mostly situated near riverbed. In previous generation, people used high peak glacier melt water to irrigate crops, plants and tress. Nowadays old glacier sources are drying up. There is scarcity of water specially when water is needed the most during seeding period in April and May season. Few villages are desperately fighting for these old water sources.
With the help of renewable energy, using solar PV modules based water pumps (submersible etc) and using mechanism which converts the potential of river water flow into driving water pump without using electricity. By using these methods we not only irrigate our existing farm-land but we can also cultivate medicinal/aromatic plants and trees in leftover barren land.
By using these methods we not only irrigate our existing farm-land but we can also cultivate medicinal/aromatic plants and trees in leftover barren land
SkeYulLadakh
Members
Mudra Kumar – B Tech (Queen’s University, Belfast, Ireland), Y.I.F. (Ashoka University) | Nagpur
Tsetan Dolma – BA (IGNOU) | Leh
Alisha Jain – BMC (Symbiosis International University) | Kolkata
Namita Bhaladhare – BMM (Mumbai University), MS (London School of Economics) | Mumbai
What will be the effect of your project?
The effect of out work will be manifold. Firstly, using the power of content and internet will strengthen Dolma’s travel brand in the local tourism industry. This will improve Doma’s business and increase its revenue, in turn bringing money into the Ladakhi ecosystem. Secondly, a larger market share would require a larger workforce. The nine women guides who work on a freelance basis with her currently can be permanently employed along with generating employment opportunities for more women as guides, local hosts etc. Thirdly, a successful online platform will also create opportunities for the showcase and sale of handicraft products made by indigenous tribes
