Sambhaavnaa Institute, Palampur, Jagori Grameen, Deer Park, Bir and Kalpavriksh, Pune had started the process of planning for a Himachal Pradesh Vikalp Sangam this year. But we increasingly felt that the process would be more meaningful if more states of the Himalayan region, specifically the Western Himalaya came together for the cross learning. However, planning of a Western Himalaya Vikalp Sangam 2017(if at all we decide to have one), we felt a need of an exercise whereby representatives from all three states, that is Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand come together to actually envisage the process so that it is not reduced to an event but will be more carefully thought out with a collective ownership.

The invite for the preliminary meeting or the Mini Vikalp Sangam was extended to a series of organizations in Uttarakhand, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir (See Annexure below). While some could not attend, 25 individuals from 10 organizations from the above states got together from August 20 to 22nd, 2016, as part of the Western Himalayan Mini-Vikalp Sangam at the campus of Sambhaavnaa, above Palampur in Himachal (See Annexure 1 below for attendees). The Sangam was organized by Sambhaavnaa, Jagori, Deer Park, and Kalpavriksh. Participants included groups and individuals working on;  Organic and biodiverse farming  Women’s empowerment and rights  caste and gender justice  Sustainable livelihoods  Alternative learning and education  Local governance, community rights on natural resources  Community based forest conservation

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