CERD Foundation

Jammu and Kashmir is known as, “Paradise on Earth” because of its unmatchable scenic beauty, attractive landscapes hence is among the most important tourist destinations of the world. Apart from adventurous tourism, the state is also known for Religious tourism where every year millions of tourist visits to pay homage and seek blessings.  Prominent of them is Amarnath yatra, which is an annual Hindu pilgrimage. It commences every year during the month of July to August. It is playing an important role in the economy of the state and helps in earning the livelihood by local people. Along with this it also affects the environment, positive or negative, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, the current project aims to understand the economic and environmental impacts of the pilgrimage.

Pyrenaria cherrapunjeana belongs to family Theaceae, is a middle sized tree, growing up to 12m high in the dense subtropical forests. The species is considered to be endemic to India, where it is restricted to the state of Meghalaya. The habitat of the species is threatened by a number of anthropogenic factors including limestone mining, fire, agricultural expansion, extraction of timber and non-timber forest products, as well as encroachment of forest land for human settlement. Therefore, the species requires immediate conservation efforts in order to save it from extinction. Hence, the current study will generate a baseline data and help in priority conservation of the species

According to United Nation, Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) survey conducted in 2008 around 70 thousand people alone in the valley are drug addict, among them approximately 31% (4000) are women. Majority of the drug abusers in the valley belong to the age group of 17-35. Many reasons including unrest, unemployment, corruption, poverty etc. have directly or indirectly encouraged the youth for drug abuse. Therefore, it is important to study the issue, so that remedial measures can be taken.

Museumization is one the sophisticated and successful technique in preserving the rich historical past of this planet earth. In a place like Kashmir, where political instabilities often shadow the sense of socio-cultural responsibilities and further in the name of progress, losing cultural heritage. This project focuses on creating cultural awareness by conducting various workshops and seminars. It also aims at collecting historical artifacts both private and public for the future museumization project.

Oral transmission of tribal narratives, family genealogies, etiological stories, legends, and folk tales etc. from one generation to another is the oldest method of preserving history. Oral history as a discipline might be new, but 'orality of history' as a 'tradition' has been a dynamic way of speaking for an alternative history of the 'below' beyond dominant discourses of historiography. This project is an endeavor to create an Oral History Archive by collecting multiple level interviews of old generations in Kashmir who were witness to several important historical events.

 As per the Census Report of 2011, The population of Jammu and Kashmir was 12,541,302 of which male and female were 6,640,662 and 5,900,640 with 76.75% and 56.43% literacy rate respectively. Therefore, leaving almost 44% of women population illiterate. Around 72.62% of the total population live in the villages of rural areas amounts to more challenges regarding the rural women folks. Within the low literacy, the rate of health and nutritional education among the majority of rural women is almost in abysmal state. This project aims at studying the rate of awareness and possibilities of increasing the literacy related to health and nutritional education specifically among the pregnant women and newly mothers of rural areas of Kashmir Valley.

Gentiana kurroo from the family Gentianaceae is a herbaceous plant, endemic to Northwestern Himalaya, growing in subalpine to alpine regions. It has a high medicinal value and is used to treat stomach aches, fever, bronchial infections, blood purifier, urinary disorders and improving appetite. Owing to its medicinal value, it has been facing the onslaught of indiscriminate exploitation, with the result its natural populations witness the speedy decline and is fast heading towards local extinction in the Kashmir Himalaya. Therefore, the species requires immediate conservation efforts in order to save it from extinction.