Healing Himalayas Foundation
Preserving Himalayan foothills' environment and culture through ground action, education, solid waste management, and plastic pollution reduction
- Bronze Certified 2023
- FCRA
- 80G
- 12A
About
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Headquarters
New Delhi, Delhi
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Since
2016
Founded in 2016, Healing Himalayas is dedicated to preserving the fragile ecosystem and cultural heritage of the Himalayan region. In response to the Read moreenvironmental degradation caused by increasing tourism and human activity, the organization focuses on educating tourists, trekkers, and local communities about sustainable waste management. Healing Himalayas conducts year-round clean-up drives, establishes material recovery facilities, and promotes responsible tourism practices. By engaging with local communities, the foundation not only protects the natural beauty and ecological balance of the Himalayas but also enhances livelihoods and supports sustainable development in the region. Over the past eight years, with the help of 4,000+ volunteers, Healing Himalayas has removed over 1,633 tonnes of waste from key trekking routes and continues to lead impactful environmental initiatives.
Issue
Healing Himalayas is addressing the escalating issue of solid waste accumulation in remote and renowned tourist destinations, where urbanization and increasing footfall have significantly impacted the environment. Treks and trails that were once untouched are now marred by waste, endangering the region's natural beauty and the well-being of local communities. This unmanaged waste poses a severe threat to local water bodies and air quality, further exacerbating environmental degradation in these fragile ecosystems. In the higher altitudes, particularly above 300 meters, the retrieval of heavy materials like glass bottles becomes nearly impossible, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions to protect these pristine landscapes.
Action
a) Promoting decentralized approaches to solid waste management for efficient and localized solutions. b) Building a sustainable bio-economy and fostering green livelihoods through scientifically-driven solid waste management practices. c) Organizing exposure visits for stakeholders, youth, and administrative officials to our Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to encourage knowledge sharing and collaborative action. d) Providing practical learning opportunities and environmental education through hands-on clean-up drives. e) Advocating for policies aimed at reducing non-biodegradable solid waste in the Himalayan foothills.
Cause Area
Impact
• Waste Removal: Over 1,633 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste have been removed through 1,000+ clean-up drives, with support from 4,000+ volunteers. These efforts are restoring the ecological health of the Himalayan regions and the famous trekking routes and remote areas like Kheerganga, Prashar Rishi Lake Spiti, Kinnaur. • Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Six MRFs have been established, with two more under construction in remote regions, enhancing waste processing and recycling for sustainable management. • Educational Outreach: Targeted IEC initiatives have educated tourists, trekkers, and local communities on sustainable waste management, promoting environmental responsibility. • Community Empowerment: Local communities are actively involved in conservation efforts, benefiting from economic opportunities created through environmental projects. • Responsible Tourism: By promoting responsible tourism, Healing Himalayas has reduced the environmental footprint of tourism while improving the trekking experience. • Cultural Preservation: The organization incorporates cultural preservation into its initiatives, safeguarding traditions and values alongside environmental conservation.
Programs
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Upcoming - Swarnim Himalayas
a) setting up of the MRF - Material Recovery facility
b) Tourist information centre at the foothill of Kheerganga trek
c) Public toilet along the trail
d) Information, education and communication activities around waste segregation in the 5 villages - Barshaini, Pulga, Tosh, Nakthan and Tulga
e) Reverse supply chain of solid waste to make it sustainable
f) Training of locals to operate the MRF -
Himalayan Harmony
The HIMALAYAN HARMONY PROJECT provides a comprehensive solution to fill the void for SWM systems at Kedarnath temple. The proposal is based on our successful education, training, and implementation of SWM programs at 6 sites in Himachal Pradesh which are currently operational.
PROJECT GOALS
• To achieve a sustainable local waste eco-system by constructing a new MRF with required technical infrastructure and trained manpower
• To increase awareness and teach best-practices in proper waste disposal and segregation, for achieving the maximum recyclability of plastic, MLP and glass waste
• To generate bio-economic livelihood opportunities by providing employment at MRF operation and Waste Transportation
. Roughly 17lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath temple. At the altitude of 3538meters it will be difficult to construct and operate MRF to handle dry waste but it is the need of the hour. -
Sustaining paradise
The foundation’s flagship project, 'Sustaining Paradise,' aims to preserve and conserve the precious natural heritage of the Himalayas.
The influx of tourists has led to pollution, with non-biodegradable waste accumulating in valleys and streams, causing environmental harm.
The project focuses on building a sustainable waste management system at the local level, with waste collection and processing centers supported by communities. Workshops, trainings, and clean-up drives empower communities for safe waste disposal.
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Mansari Material recovery facility
The aim of this project is to achieve complete source segregation of waste from all waste generators in multiple panchayats around Mansari, enabling end-to-end waste management for the villages.
Healing Himalayas is providing support to achieve these goals. The team Healing Himalayas is involved in providing facilities to households, shops, restaurants and hotels etc for door to door waste collection.
These villages never had the opportunity or the understanding of scientific disposal of non biodegradable waste hence we divert roughly 2 tonnes o =f solid waste from being dumped in river or mountain slop.
Leadership Team
Demographics & Structure
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No. of Employees
6-20
M&E
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Internal, External Assessors
No
Policies
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Ethics and Transparency Policies
No
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Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy
No
Political & Religious Declarations
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On Affiliation if any
No
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On Deployment Bias if any
No
Registration Details
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PAN Card
AABTH5084N
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Registration ID
1587/2016
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VO ID / Darpan ID
DL/2017/0174447
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12A
AABTH5084NE20211
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80G
AABTH5084NF20211
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FCRA
231661884
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CSR Registration Number
Not Available
Location
Other Details
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Type & Sub Type
Non-profit
Society