In every issue, HIMAL will introduce non-governmental organisations and research institutions doing work in the Himalayan region.
— Editor
Development Alternatives
Development Alternatives, established in 1982, is a non-profit, multidisciplinary organisation engaged in designing, developing and delivering appropriate technology packages for sustainable development. The society designs environmentally sound and socially appropriate technologies aimed at the mass market so as to bring socio-economic change through self-supporting action at the grassroot level.
At the invitation of Sikkim´s newly constituted Department of New and Renewable Sources of Energy, Development Alternatives ts organising a rural energy survey under the Integrated Rural Energy Planning (IREP) scheme so as to maximise use of existing resources. The Soreng Sub-Division in West District has been selected as the study region to develop a data-base for block level rural energy planning.
Development Alternatives plans to cover about´1,000 households in Soreng, which has a population of 34,662 spread over 62 villages. The study will assess the physical, economic and social environment relating to rural energy planning, investigate the basic needs, and attempt to understand the consumer´s perception and preference regarding energy options. It will quantify available energy resources, map the consumption pattern, and suggest models to optimise use of soft woods, hard woods and other materials. As a follow-up, Development Alternatives will provide a framework for increasing progressively the net energy to be made available to the villagers of Sikkim.