Executive Summary

1. Background

In March 1993, Government of Haryana formed an independent board namely Shivalik Development Board (SDB) with Shivalik Development Agency (SDA) as its implementation arm for overall integrated development of the Shivalik region of Haryana. The coverage area was defined as entire Panchkula and Ambala districts and part of Yamunanagar district comprising of whole of Bilaspur, Sadaura and Chichrauli blocks and newly included 40 villages of Jagadari and Mustafabad Block .

In 2006, Shivalik Development Board has planned to evolve appropriate long-term programmatic thrust for facilitating integrated development of the region for socio-bio-economic development of Shivalik region. SDA invited Alternative Development Initiatives (ADI), Chandigarh to design future path of holistic development of the region and evolve a perspective plan for SDB.

The team of experts from different areas of development formulated a systematic, participative and rational methodology to study the core sectors to capture the overall scenario and make suggestions for need-based holistic development of the region. It comprised of analysis of data from line departments and development administration, review of literature and expert opinions, field surveys & transect and consultations with various stakeholders within and outside the Shivaliks. This document is a result of several such interactions and analyses. The details of methodology are presented in Chapter1.

2. Situational Analysis

Shivalik hill ranges is a part of sub Himalayan mountain system extending from the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Uttarnachal, covering Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab and Haryana in India. A large part of the Shivaliks lies in Himachal Pradesh, the upper catchment of Shivalik region of Haryana. The Shivalik region in Haryana is spread over 3,514 square kilometres of districts Ambala, Panchkula and parts of Yamunanagar.

Shivaliks is perhaps the most fragile ecosystem in the country. Burgeoning human and livestock population pressure has led to natural resource degradation, especially that of land and water resources and decimation of floral and fauna of the Shivaliks. The region is less developed and is known for poor socio-economic conditions, as compared to the state.

3. Human Development Index

Shivalik Development Agency has a mandate of socio-economic development of poor families in the Shivalik area. While it could be accomplished in the long term, it is imperative to prioritise the intervention areas and sectors given the limited financial and human resources. It was proposed to address the neediest villages on the priority, based on certain criteria. Human Development Index was designed to assist in the process of prioritisation of villages for interventions under SDA.

The chapter 2 presents the poverty profile of villages covered under Shivalik Development Agency taking into consideration the following indicators:

•  Below Poverty Line,
•  Population of SC in the villages,
•  Agriculture labour
•  Access to drinking water,
•  Educational status,
•  Health attainment, and
•  Child Sex Ratio (0 to 6 years)

Of the total 1132 villages, 144 villages fall in the score range of 0 to 0.25, which requires immediate attention , of these approximately 61 percent i.e. 88 villages fall in Panchkula district and 46 villages in Yamunanagar district. Only 10 villages of Ambala district fall under this score range. SDA has the maximum of 843 villages in the score range of 0.26 to 0.50, which requires long-term attention .