The Rudiyas, the socially and economically downtrodden people living in this highly tortuous terrain, are no longer victims of the vagaries of nature, their lot has been considerably improved by Dr. Anil P. Joshi who in 1980 introduced improvised tools and modern designs for the baskets and other products made by them. Dr. Joshi achieved this through his team of social workers from the Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a Rudraprayag based NGO.