The Spiti Challenge

Nestled in the Himalayan valleys in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, Spiti, literally translating as ‘middle land’, is as challenging a terrain as it is picturesque. Known for its pristine beauty, Spiti, thanks to the relentless efforts of young pioneers to bring sustainable livelihood opportunities to its people, is on its way to becoming a unique hub of alternative practices that are compatible with the ecology. In this article, Dr Rakesh Agrawal ‘Ridh’, talks about how local resources, for example, the underrated sea buckthorn berry, are mobilized to generate not just income, but an interest in the ways in which the communities cope with the intermittent difficulties.

- Dr Rakesh Agrawal

Spiti, which is popularly known as a cold desert, is located in Himachal Pradesh, which, up until now, appealed only to a handful of adventure-seeking tourists. Far from being mainstream, this was a place that was yet to come up to speed with other tourist destinations in the region. Here was a place that needed to be recognized and harnessed for the vast potential it held; along with its natural resources, its people and communities, too, needed to be brought into the folds of sustainable growth and development. Of late, Spiti has changed immensely.

Ishita Khanna’s Persistent Efforts

Due to the relentless efforts of Ishita Khanna, born and brought up in Dehradun, the valley has undergone several positive transformations. While the locals have been guided on how to best utilize the available resources, they have also been sensitized to the possible hazards that can and will come about if the resources are recklessly spent. The overarching purpose of this enterprise has been to generate income, reduce costs, and protect the environment, while cultivating a culture of homestays—an arrangement where travellers can stay with the locals at a nominal cost.

Perhaps owing to Ishita’s care and devotion to mountains, an inextricable part of her childhood, Spiti, as it turns out, was destined to benefit from her grit and determination. She understood the crucial link between conservation and livelihood. In her words, “One cannot expect people to conserve their environment unless their livelihoods are assured and local products can be gainfully marketed.”