This paper tracks the organizational and financial history of the Integrated Village Development Project (IVDP) and the self-help group (SHG) network it supports in Tamil Nadu, India.

Sholas, which represent a unique vegetation complex, are very rich in biodiversity and support a high degree of endemism are known for their intrinsic values in terms of providing sustained water supply in the hills. Shola forests faced severe stress from biotic interferences like collection of firewood and fodder, recurrent man made fires in surrounding grasslands and conversion into exotic plantations, which caused their depletion.

The histopathological studies are useful in evaluating the pollution potential of toxicants since trace levels of chemicals do not bring about animal mortality over a given period and are capable of inducing considerable damage to organ.