Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 26/25

IMI REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HIMALAYAN DEVELOPMENT IN STRATEGIC MEETING WITH NITI AAYOG OFFICIALS

In a forward-looking meeting held on March 21, 2025, IMI delegation consisting of Jigmet Takpa, IFS (Vice President), Roshan Rai (Secretary) and Dr. Rajan Kotru (GC member) met with Dr. VK Saraswat (Member NITI Aayog), Shree Surender Mehra (Advisor), Shree Amit Malik (Director), and senior NITI Aayog officers. The discussions focused on IMI’s significant contributions to the NITI Aayog Report “Vision 2035 of IHR” and its ongoing commitment to a sustainable future for the Himalayas.

Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) is a civil society led network platform with the mission to mainstream concerns of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and its people in the development dialogue of India.

IMI members reiterated that the goal of achieving a “Viksit Bharat 2047” is intrinsically linked to developing a “Viksit Himalaya.” The meeting explored multiple thematic areas to focus on the sustainable development of the Himalayan region, where IMI could significantly contribute, including:

Address the issue of data gaps in the Himalaya. • Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience building through a river basin approach. • Water resources of the Himalaya including glaciers and mountain springs and their long term management. • Thematic areas of sustainable tourism, agroecology and waste management in the mountains with integration of a working EPR framework. • Establishment and management of the Himalayan Data Centre • Formation of a Himalayan State Regional Council. • Strategies to secure the Himalayas through a dedicated Himalayan Authority.

IMI members emphasized that the brainstorming session not only reinforced existing collaborations but also paved the way for IMI’s potential co-optation as members of various NITI Aayog working groups. Further, discussions included plans to undertake comprehensive sub-regional studies as part of the broader vision for “Viksit Bharat 2047.”

The dialogue also underscored the importance of establishing a Himalayan Development Authority to oversee development activities and ensure adherence to legal compliances across the Indian Himalayas.

IMI looks forward to continued collaboration with NITI Aayog as both institutions work together to transform regional challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth and resilience in the Himalayan region.