Abstracts:The Himalayan region has tended to remain on the periphery of policy-space because of a multitude of factors. The paper aims at understanding regional disparities and its causes with special focus on the high altitude region. It attempts to identify the environmental, social and political factors responsible for the development neglect the region faces and explore means to bridge the gaps. The paper highlights the need of regional policies for balanced regional growth, socio-ecologically adaptive solutions for endogenous development, and a community-managed mechanism of delivery.