This component of the Himmothan Pariyojana focuses on the implementation of micro-watershed projects, designed specifically for Himalayan conditions, through community-based village-level Watershed Committees.

At the outset, capacity building of personnel from selected non-profit organisations (NPO) is undertaken, so they can embark on a larger programme of participatory Natural Resources Management (NRM) on a watershed basis. This creates a talent pool of trained personnel within the staff of NPOs and builds necessary technical competence in the Watershed Committees to undertake larger NRM projects.

This component was operationalised in January 2002, in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh with the grant to the People’s Science Institute (PSI), Dehradun. Over a four-year period, PSI undertook capacity building of 15 grassroots-level organisations towards implementing participatory watershed development programmes in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Similarly, the Kumaon section of this component, led by Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), Sitla, Nainital district, commenced in November 2002. Over a four-year period, CHIRAG undertook capacity building of 10 grassroots-level organisations towards implementing participatory watershed development programmes in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.