83

, 

members of SHGs in Tehri

Garhwal and Rudraprayag were supported

by the NGO Mount Valley Development

Association (MVDA) to form 3 self-reliant

women’s co-operatives. Of these, mang

now successfully manufactures and processes

agro-produce like millets, pickles, pulses, oil

seeds, herbs, etc., with an annual turnover

of approximately

`

1 crore. e co-operatives

mobilize and empower women farmers,

besides building market linkages, connects

them with developmental schemes of

government and enhances their managerial

capacities.

‘Our programmes are designed to create

small-scale income generating farming

and non-farming practices through

collectivization in order to secure income at

individual household level. rough capacity

building of our beneficiaries, we help them

build self-sustained livelihood options.

We have ensured that gender equality and

environmental sustainability remain integral

by working with community-based groups

and promoting environment-friendly

interventions,’ explains Avtar Singh Negi,

founder of MVDA.

Mount Valley

Development

Association

•

•

•• •

Founded by Avtar Singh Negi in 1995

Mount Valley Development

Association (MVDA) works in the

areas of livelihood, agriculture and

education with local communities

in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand

and Uttar Pradesh. Its vision is to

eradicate poverty through developing

sustainable livelihoods, promoting

good governance, minimizing social

discrimination and developing

entrepreneurship to reduce urban

migration. MVDA has formed and

works with 450 SHGs and 3 women’s

federations as well as nearly 7,900

school students to empower them

through building capacity and

enhancing knowledge. Its future goals

include building climate-resilient

agriculture and aligned livelihood,

health and hygiene, and education

programmes to 5,000 individuals by

2026.

Encouraging landraces, that is, locally adapted, traditional

varieties of plants and seeds