DGSS began with the idea of securing a rightful share for the local hill people in this commercially exploited wealth of the Himalayas. It asserted that the local forest should not solely cater to outside needs, of the 'timber hungry' plains, but should provide at least part of the local needs and employment. Chandi Prasad Bhatt, a clerk in a hill motor company, and six of his colleagues set up the DGSS in 1964 at Gopeshwar town in Chamoli district. Deeply concerned with the poverty and unemployment of the hill people, they undertook the running of small industries such as a cooperative resin factory, for the gathering and marketing of local herbs, and a carpentry workshop to meet local needs of agricultural tools and employment. They faced a number of difficulties in getting the necessary forest resources ( such as resin and timber) from the government at the right time and at affordable prices. In 1971-72 they were refused the supply of ash wood for the carpentry center. Instead, the forestry department began to sell ash trees to sports-goods companies of the plains. This led to a series of struggles and protests by DGSS.