Local Economy
With the limitation in income generation opportunities locals are heavily dependent upon the medicinal plants collection resulting in over-harvesting. No one knows the impacts of over harvesting. Furthermore, since all the medicinal plants has a market in Tibet, China and there is no markets or processing centre developed in Nepal, this income generation looks more like short-term which doesn’t have a sustainability. On the other hand, the interests on traditional livelihood like agriculture and indigenous skills are losing day by day.
So, TWC has already worked very hard to open the Tsum Valley for tourists followed by grand tourism promotional and cultural awareness campaign from 2007-2009. Now, TWC wants to engineer a system that helps to obtain the maximum benefits by the local community people. The pilot project has already started by employing young locals as a guide and arranging a home stay concept.
Since the organization has its own rules of financial administration, it takes 15% service charge by employing them that directly goes to the TWC account.
Irrigation
As people are mainly depending upon the subsistence farming, where it takes 7-8 months to grow for harvesting TWC is really concerned to improve the technology in agriculture mainly by the irrigation. As the Shiar Khola (Changbo) has no use till now due to the lack of technology and infrastructure, TWC would like to make a bigger dams, production of hydro electricity so that it can be used for the irrigation purposes.
Besides these, TWC with its limited financial supports, it has distributed tools and machines support for advanced agriculture like water pump (Nyile Community), oil-refinfing machine (Paling Community).
Health
One can easily imagine what happens when there is no hospital in the remote place like Tsum. Many people lost their lives from minor diseases as they don’t get quick medication. Especially, women’s lives are always in risk during the maternity case. As the nearest motor head is seven days walk, a sick person cannot even think of treatment in the hospital instead they have to go to the Lamas and Shamans.
TWC aims to build a hospital (5-6 bed) capacity to solve the problems associated with severe health condition. The team of health camp during 2009 suggested building a satellite-hospital.
Tourism Infrastructure Development Projects
As number of tourists is increasing since its opening, TWC identifies the lack of physical infrastructure (tea shops, hotels and lodges) in order to meet the needs of visitors. As tourism is seasonal, any locals are unlikely to invest on building hotels and lodges which widens the gap on pro-poor tourism. TWC has mechanized a system which helps to employ local guides and porters. On the other hand, we have been promoting local home stay program. This gives local an economic opportunity to improve their home while serving the guests. So, home stay program provides tourists with closer understanding of culture and strengthening the mutual understanding.
We want the tourists who love local food, culture and life style. This helps to improve the respect towards each other. nd life style. This helps to improve the respect towards each other.
Shelter
Though people have basic homes for their residential purpose and for their cattle the design of buildings are not energy efficient. They have to stay in very dark home which have got very poor ventilation. Since they don’t have technology to seal the window their buildings are weak in energy-efficiency. Moreover, people are suffering from cataracts and several other diseases like asthma due to smoke from fire. So, there is a need to change in design of buildings so as to minimize the health hazards. TWC is looking for the professionals, experts and volunteers for the improvement of building.
Cultural Heritage Conservation:
1. Maitain the Mani walls:
Mani walls are dominating architectural feature of Tsum. They are built along with Kaanis, Chortens, Mani lokors (prayer wheel) and Chhakang. They have played an important role in religious activities. They are special social landmarks which date back to 12th century.
2. Renovate local monasteries:
Due to the lack of funding and technical support, the local monasteries are degrading. Only with proper care and attention by Konger (guard) is not enough while the buildings are very old and in deteriorated situation. Hence, there is a need of financial and technical assistance to improve existing infrastructure including historically significant caves.
3. Coduct Trainings:
In order to revive centuries old indigenous knowledge and skills, trainings are very important to hand over to younger generation. TWC is looking for the financial help and support to respect those few Tsumba with traditional skills and want to conduct training for herbal medicine (Aamchi), astronomy, astrology, thangka painting, sculpture, local sewing skills