I have many friends living in the interiors of the Indian Himalayas where there is hardly any road connectivity or communication. Tourism is one of the biggest source of livelihood for them. It's after the lockdown, I came in contact with a couple of friends who literally narrated the impact of lockdown on them. As we are aware, tourism industry has been worst affected because of the mandatory lockdown imposed nation-wide. When the situation was normal during pre-pandemic era, the people from the nearby village provided farm/ration supply to the home-stays or guest-houses or lodges in their area with which they use to make their livelihood. There are many who worked as a tour guide or operated adventure tourism business. But with this pandemic, things have stalled for a longer duration and nobody can answer until when. I personally feel, it would take another one year to bring back normalcy. As things are moving, I am assuming until 2022, things would be more or less same because of the steady increase in the number of positive cases not only in our country but globally.
The effects of corona virus can be seen majorly in the urban cities and doctors always advised to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and and avoid unhealthy lifestyle by eating freshly cooked food. To sum in simple words, I realized the importance of sattvic or pure food when I had an hour long conversation with my friends living in the remote regions. The local pahadi people grow a variety of vegetables, pulses, herbs etc in their kitchen farm. In such regions there is no dearth for the cultivated area. Anything grow there becomes a medicine or a jadibuti to cure something or the other. Even nettle leaves has significance which scares and can give nightmare to anyone. Who has thought it can help in hair growth and has many health benefits? The food we eat in the city is no less than a garbage and the lifestyle we follow is leading to adverse health impacts. Now, we are looking for raw turmeric to drink with milk, cutting down on sugar and salt by replacing it with stevia or honey, giloy or ashwagandha and even shilajit as immunity booster.
After our conversation was over something clicked within me, of creating an opportunity for self and for others during this crisis ridden hour. Few people in my list were sending many Himalayan local herbs to their clients. I had also asked for some products to taste. I really liked it. The taste was good and the nutritional value cannot be ignored. These two factors combined can give a lethal combo of power packed food items loaded with numerous vitamins and nutrients to a city dweller living in toxicity. It took quite a lot of time to convince myself. Initially I started gifting these products to my family members and then to close friends and acquaintances. Based on their liking and feedback, I decided to come up with my own brand so started with my name itself NITYA (HIMALAYA to HOME). Nitya, a Sanskrit term means eternal. Like the meaning of my name, longevity of the products is also maintained. As NO CHEMICAL or PRESERVATIVES have been added to these products, it gives a longer than normal shelf life. What else do you need in life when you can get Himalayan food products at your door step especially when you have to think twice before stepping out of house?
I
would always advice people to not just switch to healthy lifestyle but include
healthy food in your daily diet. Try investing in your food, you might not have
to invest in doctors. My doctor friends, please don't feel bad and I am sure
you would agree to what I have written. Just like we Indians realized the
importance of Yoga when foreigners started doing it and educating us with its
health benefits. Similarly, let's realize the importance of our own products
before anybody else comes to impart it's significance!
While researching for Indian manufactured bottles. I came across with STEELO, an established and reputed Indian manufacturing company of PET (Poly Ethylene Threpthalate) containers and bottles. I started using their bottles which are absolutely safe BPA free with food grade and odor resistant material. I got many positive responses, therefore, I connected with this company and now, STEELO is NITYA Himalaya to Home’s packaging partner.
So, that’s how this entire journey began. Now looking
forward to your feedback and suggestions on how to improvise further so that
these farmers could benefit out of it while sitting in a remote area.
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