Improvement of rural people livelihood
in cold desert areas of the Western Himalayas

International NGO Network : LEHO

Contact

LEHO : Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation

Polarised Common Facility Centre Skarajuk

Leh Ladakh 194101

INDIA

Tele : 91-1982-253691 Office 252580 Fax

Email : sultanaleho@yahoo.co.in or tashileho@yahoo.com

Brief Genesis

Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation LEHO came into existence on the 1st July 1991. The negative effect of the modern development on the social values, culture and tradition in different Ladakhi societies were the guiding force for creation of the organisation.

Statement of LEHO mission

To work towards promoting sustainable societies at the village level.

 

LEHO's guiding philosophy is based on participatory learning and action, encouragement of indigenous forms of cooperation, simple living, respect for experience of the farmer, proper utilization of natural resources like land, water, vegetation and livestock on sustainable basis integrating with the age old tradition and culture.

Watershed development

It is a holistic integrated approach for sustainable development of a village or a watershed area. LEHO has started watershed programs in 12 villages in the year 2003 with financial assistance from LAHDC and GOI. The project period is five years. Land development, water conservation, irrigation canal, dug well, plantation, protection bund, training on watershed concept, community organisation, exposure visit, PRA etc. are taken under this program.

Women empowerment

36 women self-help groups (SHG) have been formed in different villages. The concept of formation of SHGs is to start economic activities by the group to bring income generation to individual members by pooling financial and physical resources. The most popular activities are making sea-buck-throne juice, running of restaurants, vegetables production, pashmina processing, knitting woolen garments etc.

 

LEHO facilitates formation of groups, registration of the society, basic training, exposure visits, interaction meetings, sharing of information, leadership building, health education, organizing village meetings, awareness campaigns etc. The program has changed the situation and women feel more empowered by gaining technical experience and income generation.

Building capabilities of technocrat and youths

Training programs are organized for engineers, masons, carpenters for conservation of passive solar energy for green houses, poultry farms and warm houses for winter months by engaging consultants from TERI, GERES France is the one of the most supportive foreign organization for this project.

 

Similar trainings are organized to local youths from different villages of Leh and Kargil districts for management of green house, compost making, poultry farming, fruit drying, jam, juice making, fruit preservation, Pashmina dehairing, spinning and weaving.

Environmental protection and promotion

Awareness campaign on world Environment day conducts in Schools, villages and in Leh city in collaboration of Medical Department Leh, Good cooperation was given for banning on polythyen.

Health care

Action against smoking, alcoholism, drugs, addictions are being taken through regress campaign in schools and public gatherings.

 

Medical camps are being held to give on spot treatment and guidance for good health in areas where medical facilities are not available.

Silicosis

Villages where Indus water is taken for irrigation face severe problem of a natural pollutant called silicon dioxide which comes in the soil with the water.

 

The silicon dioxide rises in the air when the soil get dried and wind blows causing a disease called Silicosis.

 

LEHO after getting the matter researched through competent authorities introduced a mask with filtrate which protects inhabitants of the village from the silicosis problem.

 

Awareness camps along with introduction of mask has reduced remarkably the problem of silicosis in whole area.

Water conservation

Ladakh being cold arid desert, water gains importance for conservation. Construction of artificial glaciers, snow protection bunds, water harvesting tanks and judicious usage of available water are prime issues on which LEHO had been working.

Ecological agriculture

In Ladakh most of the people practice ecological agriculture. In recent past government introduced chemical fertilizers and pesticides on highly subsidized rates with the publicity that it will increase agriculture productions.

 

This intervention disturbs the age old recycling system of agriculture and animal by-products for manufacturing organic manure form crop field. LEHO took up strong awareness campaigns against the ill effect of chemical fertilizer and pesticides on human health and its adverse effect on the soil fertility for future production.

 

The basic concept of ecological agriculture is to work with the nature by maintaining biodiversity, natural recycling systems which leads to production of healthy organic food, disease resistance in plants, maintenance of soil fertility and ecological balance.

 

LEHO has established 30 agriculture demonstration farms in different villages to produce organic products with introduction of appropriate technologies.

Organic food production

LEHO encourages farmers to produce organic products like vegetables, seeds, fruits, milk, meat and wool.

 

Campaign to popularize organic food are being taken through training, awareness camps, radio talks and distribution of printed materials.

 

Organic pickles, dried apricot, apricot jam, seabuck throne juice, vegetable seeds, pashmina shawls, knitted gloves, socks and caps are being kept for sale at LEHO shop. Efforts are being made to standardize organic agriculture products on international standards.

Appropriate technology

Keeping in view the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh region, LEHO introduced the following appropriate technologies for sustainable development with environmental protection.

1. Solar Green house technology
2. Solar Poultry house
3. Warming of livening rooms for winter through Solar
4. Construction of vegetable cellars
5. Introduction of vegetable and fruits solar dryers
6. Improvement in efficiency of water flour mills
7. Pashmina spinning wheels
8. Pashmina Carding/dehairing machines
9. Improved looms for Pashmina weaving
10. Motorized/Spinning wheel for pashmina and wool spinning
11. Fruit and vegetable preservation techniques

Preservation of tradition and culture heritage

It is said that the social values, tradition and culture of a society are soul of the community and Ladakh has a rich civilized culture. LEHO through work-shops, seminars and interaction bring awareness about the values.

Utilization of solar energy

It is said that in a year 300 days on an average are clear sunny days in Ladakh.

 

The sun rays are strong and clear as Ladakh is situated 9000 to 14000 feet above sea level. Abundance availability of Solar energy is a great potential for converting into electric power for light, lift irrigation, transport, computer etc. and passive solar energy for warming houses, living room, poultry houses, green houses, drying fruits and vegetables. Leho constructed common facility centres at Chushot Gongma, Dumkher Barma, Umla., Disket Nubra and Leh for processing of Pashmina and handicraft activities with improvised technology. 109 Greenhouses with improvised heat conservation techniques are constructed. These are very effective during winter months. Unlike in the past green vegetables can be found in the farmer's houses and in the market for sale at the peak of the winter from the improved Greenhouses. This intervention has contributed both income generation and nutrition quality.

Poultry farming

Six number poultry farms are established for production of poultry meat and eggs with passive solar house technology.

 

Solar vegetable and fruit dryers were demonstrated and are being used in different villages.

 

LEHO office has been constructed with improvised technical inputs to conserve passive solar energy to warm the double story building and is being used to demonstrate government and other agencies for replication of the technology. And for contribution to hygienic and Healthy environment.

Fruit processing

In recent years sea buck throne juice has become popular in the national fruit juice market. Organic fruit juice making had been started through women SHGs in Chushot and Wanla villages. Dry apricot processing are being done by SHGs Dumkher and Skubuchan.

Pashmina processing

Pashmina fibre known as Cashmere is a luxury fiber produced in Ladakh are used for making shawls, stools and other woolen expensive garments.

 

More than 90% of the raw fibre is exported outside Ladakh. Leho has been involved in introducing dehairing/Carding machinery, improvement in spinning wheel, weaving and finishing. 90 Women were imparted training to process Pashmina.