The Hill Area Development Program (HADP) has been introduced by the Government of India to initiate socio economic development in the hill areas of India since the inception of the Fifth Five Year Plan. The main objective of this program is to ensure
sustainable development of hill areas, keeping in view the basic needs of the hill people and generating ample livelihood options for the local community. With the
progress of the Five Year plans, the focus has been shifting to preservation of biodiversity and rejuvenation of hill ecology. The major objectives of the current evaluation study was to understand the approach and strategy for the implementation of HADP and analyze the impact of the program in
the two districts of Assam, namely Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills and the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal. The study has also aimed at gaining an understanding on how far the newly emphasized objectives of eco-preservation and eco-restoration have been achieved under HADP in the above mentioned states.