Ladakh Ecological Development and Environmental Group
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Focus | Renewable energy |
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Area served | Ladakh |
Key people | Helena Norberg-Hodge (founder) Sarla Chhewang (president) Eshey Tondup (executive director) |
Award(s) | Right Livelihood Award |
Website | http://www.ledeg.org/ |
The Ladakh Ecological Development and Environmental Group (LEDeG) is an environmental NGO based in , Leh, Ladakh Union Territory in northern India. In 1986, it received the Right Livelihood Award "for preserving the traditional culture and values of Ladakh against the onslaught of tourism and development."[1]
Goals[]
Established independently in 1983, its goal is to promote ecological and sustainable development of Ladakh, focusing mainly on the promotion of renewable energy, particularly solar energy.[2]
The organization pays particular attention to environmental, economic and cultural issues affecting disadvantaged communities in Ladakh.[3]
The official website has stated exactly what the organization is geared towards:
- To encourage awareness in the Ladakhi people of the need to consider the long-term effects of development,[4]
- To encourage awareness in the Ladakhi people of the potential value of traditional culture in Ladakh’s development,[4]
- To encourage the use of perpetually renewable natural resources in Ladakh,[4]
- To test and demonstrate low-cost technologies which make use of such perpetually renewable natural resources,[4]
- To provide financial assistance for appropriate, community based development projects,[4]
- To raise funds for the achievement of the objective through donations, grants, collection etc., and through the carrying on of any business, this may help to promote the above objectives,[4]
- To pursue the above objectives with the goal of encouraging, an ecologically sound and sustainable future for the Ladakhi’s people and their land.[4]
Project history[]
The International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC), now known as Local Futures, originally established LEDeG in Ladakh in 1978.[citation needed] By 1980, it had become a small group under the leadership of ISEC's founder and notable environmental activist in the Ladakh region, Helena Norberg-Hodge.[5][6] Although LEDeG became independent in 1983, it is still closely connected to Local Futures/ISEC in achieving its goals of ecological development and sustainability in Ladakh.[5] LEDeG has made some considerable progress in Ladakh towards renewable energy and improving efficiency to benefit the local people.[3] In 2003–2007, they installed a solar photovoltaic power plant at Tangtse, with support from ICEF, MNRE and LAHDC.[3] The power plant supplies electricity to over 350 households, for five hours in a day.[3] In the years since its founding, LEDeG has become the most influential non-governmental organization in the Ladakh region.[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Farming_in_Suru_Valley%2C_Ladakh.jpg/250px-Farming_in_Suru_Valley%2C_Ladakh.jpg)
LEDeG is currently working on the European Union-funded Liveable Leh project that focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goal-6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG-11 (Sustainable cities and communities) for urban Leh to make its town a resilient, inclusive and liveable Himalayan town.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Helena Norberg-Hodge / Ladakh Ecological Development Group". The Right Livelihood Award. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ Mann, Rann Singh (2002). Ladakh then and now: cultural, ecological, and political. Mittal Publications. p. 288. ISBN 81-7099-838-7.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "About us". Ladakh Ecological Development and Environmental Group. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Our Mission". Ladakh Ecological Development and Environmental Group. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Ladakh Project". International Society for Ecology and Culture. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ Yoga Journal (Issue 104). Active Interest Media, Inc. May–June 1992. p. 108. ISSN 0191-0965.
External links[]
- Solar power in India
- Renewable energy in India
- Environmental organisations based in India
- Organisations based in Ladakh
- 1983 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir
- Organizations established in 1983