One-day Awareness Cum Interaction Program was successfully organized in the tribal village of Chunt Waliwar, Ganderbal under the DST-SEED funded project titled “Inclusion of Indigenous Survival Skills in Livelihood Security of Tribal Community in Kashmir, India. The village has a total population of 5,950, out of which 2,678 belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. Major income sources include agricultural produce particularly cherries, apples, walnuts, grapes, and honey production etc.

The program was conducted by the Institute of Business and Policy Research (IBPR), SKUAST-Kashmir, under the leadership of Dr. Omar Fayaz Khan, Principal Investigator of the project. The program marks a significant step toward uplifting tribal communities through sustainable and inclusive livelihood models, particularly in remote and tourism-rich zones like Chunt Waliwar. Dr. Khan highlighted the goals of the project, emphasizing the importance of community-driven development. Participants were encouraged to share insights about their traditional livelihood practices, income sources, and the challenges they face. The session concluded with enthusiastic participation from community members who expressed keen interest in forming cooperative groups and collaborating for a better economic future.