INDIA: INCLEMENT WEATHER AND INCREASINGLY APATHETIC ADMINISTRATORS IS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR TRADITIONAL GADDI SHEPHERDS IN NORTHERN AREAS

Record ID: 1374189

  • Title: INDIA: INCLEMENT WEATHER AND INCREASINGLY APATHETIC ADMINISTRATORS IS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR TRADITIONAL GADDI SHEPHERDS IN NORTHERN AREAS
  • Date: 1st January 2005
  • Summary: (L!2)DHARAMSHALA, INDIA (JANUARY 1,2005) (ANI) WS: WHITE VAN TRYING TO PASS BY A HERD OF SHEEP AND GOATS ON A HILLSIDE ROAD VARIOUS: MORE OF THE HERD (2 SHOTS) GV: MORE OF THE HERD (2 SHOTS) SHEPHERDS SAT ROUND CAMP FIRE HAVING FOOD (2 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVRAJ, A GADDI SHEPHERD SAYING: "Our license should be renewed without any assles. The forest people should not harass us in anyway," SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SOHAN, ANOTHER SHEPHARD SAYING: "The hills have changed a lot. Snowfalls have declined. Fodder has become scanty due to the change in weather pattern." CU: TWO SHEEP SLEEPING GV: OF SHEEPS AND GOATS CU: A KID (YOUNG GOAT), TURNS HEAD TO SMELL CAMERA SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) V.S VASUDEVA, CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, NORTH ZONE, SAYING: "Their earlier permits are checked and new ones issued by taking some nominal fees for each goat and sheep. This is a way of maintaining control over the number of animals of the Gaddis who come to Kangra. It is very difficult to issue permits for whole life." GV: OF SHEPERDS HERDING THEIR FLOCK VEHICLES TRYING TO GET PAST THE HERD ON THE ROAD
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 23:38
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DHARAMSHALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3KRWG760D4IFZTJLDFYWS136D
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Inclement weather and an increasingly apathetic administration make life difficult for the traditional Gaddi shepherds in Northern India.
    Nomadic shepherds of India's northern Himachal Pradesh are facing difficulties as pastures are shrinking.
    Usually found in Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal the Gaddi tribe tends goats and sheep for a living. They spend six summer months in the hills and the rest of the year in the plains and sell wool and milk products.
    The government charges a minimal fee from shepherds for grazing their animals based on the number of livestock. The shepherds allege that they are being harassed by the authorities while renewing the license.
    "Our license should be renewed without any hassles. The forest people should not harass us in anyway," said Devraj, a shepherd.
    The change in weather pattern is another cause of worry for the nomads. The lack of fodder and declining forest cover has made Them search for newer pastures for grazing the animals.
    "The hills have changed a lot. Snowfalls have declined.
    Fodder has become scanty due to the change in weather pattern," said Sohan, another shepherd.
    The authorities however are opposed to a onetime licensing policy for the shepherds. They believe that the Gaddi shepherds harm the environment by depleting the pastures.
    "Their earlier permits are checked and new ones issued by taking some nominal fees for each goat and sheep. This is a way of maintaining control over the number of animals of the Gaddis who come to Kangra. It is very difficult to issue permits for whole life," said V. S Vasudeva, forest conservator.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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