Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) successfully conducted a four-day international training on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Responsive Springshed Management in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) from January 29 to February 1, 2025. Organized in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), the program aimed to enhance socio-ecological resilience through improved Springshed management.

The workshop was attended by 63 participants from Nepal, Bhutan and different States of the India including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, J&K, Ladakh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. The closing ceremony was graced by Mrs. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Hon’ble Speaker, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, who emphasized integrating traditional wisdom with scientific approaches for spring revival, alongside Dr. Vijay Dhasmana, President, SRHU, who lauded the initiative. Other key speakers included Dr. V. Chauhan (SRHU), Dr. I.D. Bhatt (NIHE), and Prof. H.P. Uniyal (SRHU). Participants received certificates, and winners of the poster presentation were felicitated.

The inaugural ceremony, held at SRHU’s Mother Teresa Auditorium, featured Sh. Anand Vardhan (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary & CEO, SARA, as Chief Guest. He underscored government initiatives on spring and river rejuvenation, emphasizing civic engagement and cross-regional knowledge sharing.

The program covered an in-depth six-step methodology for spring revival, including springshed mapping, hydrogeology concepts, governance structures, and digital tools like ISHWAR. Participants also visited villages in Tehri district, including Churerdhar, Narendra Nagar, Koti Gad, Nagini, and Heval Ghati, to observe real-world water conservation efforts like solar pumping and resilient water supply schemes.

Led by experts from ICIMOD (Dr. Sanjeev Bhuchar), NIHE (Dr. I.D. Bhatt), and SRHU (Prof. H.P. Uniyal), the event was coordinated by SRHU’s WATSAN Department, including Nitesh Kaushik, Vivek Anand, Atul Uniyal, and team.

This training reinforces SRHU’s commitment to sustainable water management, fostering collaboration for Himalayan environmental conservation.