IBPR, SKUAST-K conduct awareness/ training program for tribal communities in Mamar, Ganderbal
Jul 22, 2025
GANDERBAL: As part of the ongoing project titled "Inclusion of Indigenous Survival Skills in Livelihood Security of Tribal Community in Kashmir, India", funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST-SEED), Government of India, the Institute of Business and Policy Research (IBPR), SKUAST-Kashmir conducted an awareness-cum-training program at Village Mamar, Ganderbal.
The program, held in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry department, brought together key stakeholders including Dr. Omar Fayaz Khan (Principal Investigator of the Project); Dr. Ubair Nisar (Assistant Professor, IBPR); Dr. Mehreen (Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Mamar), support staff of the veterinary unit, project staff, B.Sc. Economics and Data Science students, and members of the tribal and vulnerable communities.
The primary objective of the program was to identify, document, and integrate traditional knowledge and indigenous survival skills into sustainable livelihood models for tribal communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Omar Fayaz Khan (PI of Project) outlined the project goals, emphasizing the importance of community participation in the baseline survey. He encouraged tribal households to share their traditional practices, which would help design interventions for skill preservation, enterprise development, networking, and market linkages.
Dr. Ubair Nisar, an expert in agricultural economics, underscored the importance of linking indigenous knowledge systems with modern livelihood strategies. Dr. Mehreen, (VAS) who is closely connected with the local community, played a crucial role in building rapport and encouraging wholehearted participation in the baseline data collection.
The program concluded with the distribution of dairy input kits to the heads of tribal households, aimed at strengthening animal husbandry-based livelihoods.
Following the event, the project team also visited the tribal settlement in the HawanpatiMamar-B belt. During their interactions, several tribal youths expressed a keen interest in photography-based livelihoods linked with eco-cultural tourism, particularly in capturing tourist activities and landscapes: a promising opportunity for community-driven sustainable development.
