Mahila Umang Samiti, in the Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India, is designed as a Collective of producer-associations, to be selfmanaged and financially sustainable in the long term. In the Kumaon region, decreases in upland irrigation systems based on fragile primary water resources resulted in reduced crop outputs and created a vicious cycle of impoverishment. Livestock management also suffered and led to indiscriminate grazing of hill slopes by cattle and goats in search of fodde which in turn led to ecological devastation of vast tracts of hill slopes adjoining village lands. This led to a web of problems revolving around the classic “tragedy of the commons”.

Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, a non-profit voluntary organization set up in the year 1992, has been able to evolv a holistic intervention strategy which channels resources - managerial, technical and financial - directly to people and associations of the communities, working at the village/river basin level.

Since 2001, Umang has been spearheading the establishment of an effective network of hill women entrepreneurs in order to enable self-help groups to engage in sustainable livelihood improvement efforts and viable micro enterprises to supplement family incomes. Thi growing network of hill women is engaged in the production and marketing of fruit preserves and pickle, honey and spices and beeswa candles, hand-knitted woollens, micro concrete roofing tiles and free range hens and eggs.

The most significant aspect of these local efforts in promoting the spirit
of enterprise is a concern of the institutional framework at the grassroots. Each and every business activity is directly controlled by the producer- groups. Within Umang, the leadership of spirited young women is emerging and the work environment is positive for their growth. They are emerging as positive role models. However, they need to gain strength in institutional and managerial aspects; some systematic efforts are needed to develop the capacity of the individual staff and grooming leadership. This is all the more important as Umang is grappling with the challenge of scaling-up field operations due to the pressure of another 1,000 women members of neighbouring self help groups who aspire to participate in similar enterprise