Lako Devi lives in Dharamsala with her one son and five daughters. She came to Himachal Pradesh before they were born, when her family's land in Rajasthan began to yield too little to provide for them. Years of irregular harvests forced her and others to migrate in search of work. When she arrived in Dharamsala, she looked for work and for somewhere to stay, but could find nothing. She could gain no government support and so moved into a temporary shelter with a community of Rajasthanis in Himachal Pradesh. She lives in the same situation today, with no running water or electricity. It is a hard life, she says, particularly during the winter. Lako's son is coping with a deteriorating mental illness, and she fears that if she cannot find a way of earning extra income, she will not be able to afford medication for him.

The majority of families who have migrated from their home regions to the valley of Himachal Pradesh have done so out of necessity. Economic hardship has driven them off their infertile land in other regions of India, and they have been forced to move to where work may be available. In Himachal State, many work in temporary jobs, moving to where labour is needed; some establish themselves in informal trade. In all of these things, however, they lack security. They have neither the means nor the opportunities with which to establish a stable home for their families. In addition, they find themselves in an environment that can be hostile. Social as well as economic burdens bear heavily upon their lives.

Displaced families in this region, originating from some of the poorest areas of India, came to Himachal seeking work, but in an already crowded labour market, and amidst a climate of racial and caste-based discrimination, very few have been successful. As a result, many families struggle to survive subsisting on very low incomes which often fail to meet their basic needs. Children, like their parents, have little or no opportunities for education and many spend their days scavenging, looking for anything that might provide an income. Health and sanitary conditions are extremely poor and the land on which the communities live is becoming increasingly degraded, further marginalizing opportunities for sustainable living.

Himachal Pradesh is home to approximately 10,000 "environmental refugees" They are spread across the state in clusters of temporary shelters, located along highways and on the outskirts of the towns and cities. Most have been living in this situation for over 20 years - they have too little with which to build a stable life. New families arrive each year, and settlements are swelling, as with ever-decreasing prospects in the home region, temporary living conditions in Himachal provide a preferential option.

Tong-Len Charitable Trust was founded in 2002 by a group of Tibetan refugees living in McLeod Ganj, an old hill station in the foothills of the Himalayas, about half an hour's drive from Dharamsala. (McLeod Ganj is home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a large population of Tibetan refugees who were forced into exile following the Chinese invasion of Tibet). The founders wanted to give something back to the local Indian community who have welcomed and supported them during their time in exile.

Tong-Len's approach to development is grounded in an understanding of basic human rights. Their projects are targeted to address the root causes of poverty within the displaced communities of Himachal Pradesh through a range of education and health-based projects. They work in partnership with the communities, providing them with the opportunities to pull themselves out of poverty by building their own livelihoods thus achieving sustainable progress.

Tong-Len means "give-take" in Tibetan. Its primary founder was Jamyang, a Tibetan monk and refugee resident in the Kangra Valley, in the north-west of Himachal State. Seeing the poverty and deprivation amongst the Indian people who for years have supported him since he fled his occupied homeland, he and fellow monks took to organizing a number of aid projects within a displaced community near to their home-in-exile.

Encouraged by his parents and grandparents to view the purpose of life as helping others Jamyang became a Tibetan Buddhist monk at the age of 13. For the greater part of his monastic life he studied Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy in South India. For the past 4 years, Jamyang has lived in McLeod Ganj near Dharamsala, receiving teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Jamyang or Guru-ji, as he is affectionately known, feels it is his responsibility to help people who are suffering.

"Wherever I live in the world I want to share my happiness and relieve the suffering of others," Jamyang said. "Through the wisdom of His Holiness, and my other spiritual teachers I have come to understand that love and compassion are at the heart of all the Buddhist teachings."

"When I came to Dharamsala, I found that like in most of India, there were very many people suffering," Jamyang said. "I started out doing what little I could on my own, but soon realized that I could help more effectively when working with others. I have worked with various groups and like-minded people in Dharamsala, and continue to do so. However, there are still many people suffering who receive little or no support from existing charities and organizations, such as the very poor and homeless. These are the people that Tong-Len aims to help."

• Living conditions hazardous to health are the norm for the displaced communities
• Most settlements lack clean water and any form of sanitation
• Soap and toothbrushes are unaffordable luxuries
• There are no facilities for waste disposal
• During the winter months, temperatures can drop below zero
• In the summer, heavy monsoon rains and flooding exacerbate the situation
• Basic shelter is make-shift tents draped over flimsy wooden supports
• Skin diseases and gastrointestinal infections and infestations are endemic
• Respiratory conditions, malnutrition, and blood-borne diseases are widespread
• Polio, leprosy and tuberculosis are not yet eradicated
• Cuts, bites, burns and other such injuries are common
• Relatively minor injuries frequently become infected, and under these conditions may be life threatening or result in permanent disability and disfigurement
• Young children and infants are most at risk
• Many babies are stillborn or die in the first few weeks of life
• There is no pre-natal or post-natal care
• Women give birth in the camp, supported only by their families
• Many received no education about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases
• Medical tests and treatment are expensive
• The average cost of a prescription is beyond the means of impoverished people
• People often die unable to afford essential treatment and surgery