: In Uttarakhand, the centuries-old nomadic lifestyle of shepherds is in danger #IndiaNEWS Nomadic shepherds in the central Himalayas are facing a double threat. Not only is more and more pasture land

In Uttarakhand, the centuries-old nomadic lifestyle of shepherds is in danger #IndiaNEWS
Nomadic shepherds in the central Himalayas are facing a double threat. Not only is more and more pasture land being fenced in for plantations, but they are also unable to sell their woollen products at a worthwhile price. The shepherds, from the indigenous Bhotia community, must also pay the state forest department ever-increasing fees for grazing licences, even as the area traditionally available to them shrinks.Bagori, in Uttarakhand, is a typical Bhotia village and lies just 25 km through footpaths from the source of the Ganga. Almost 2,700 metres (around 9,000 feet) above sea level, it is to here that the shepherds retreat in autumn from pastures at even higher elevations, as far up as the border with Tibet. In winter, they then move to the foothills in search of fodder for their animals, and to sell the coats, sweaters, shawls, caps and blankets they have made at home. Then it is back uphill in the spring.But this centuries-old nomadic lifestyle is now in danger, as Bhotias find space for their activities increasingly limited, whether they move up or down from Bagori. Rajendra Singh Negi, a 60-year-old shepherd who has remained in the village for winter, said his community has long taken...Read more

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