Rs 160-cr project to uplift vulnerable groups of Northeast

SHILLONG, January 31: A Rs 160-crore project, jointly conceived by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Centre, has been aimed at improving the livelihood of vulnerable groups in the Northeast through management of resources that contribute to preservation and restoration of the environment, reports UNI. The ambitious "Northeast Region Community Resource Management Project" was founded with the aim to secure participation of village communities in planning and management of all development interventions by reinforcing the strength of community-based organisation. Project co-ordinator and development strategist Toki Blah told reporters that major initiatives had been taken in six districts in Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur. Claiming that the project, declared effective in February, 1999, had yielded successful results, Blah said, "We do not have any target but at present we are helping the beneficiary villages to set up natural resources management and self-help group for development at the grassroots." "We are also working out options meant for households in the hilly areas heavily dependent on shifting cultivation locally known as jhum," he said, adding, the people living on top of the hills could not be asked to do away with the traditional method. "At the same time, we cannot leave them to the age-old concept. What we are trying to do is make them learn how to apply new technology in jhum cultivation," he added. Chief monitoring officer Bijoy Sangma said the project also aimed at enhancing the capabilities of local people to manage new technologies and institutions at the village level, making them aware of the need to preserve and regenerate natural resources, particularly forests and bio-diversity, and increasing participation of women in the decision-making process. The districts where the project is in force are North Cachar and Karbi Anglong in Assam, Ukhrul and Senapati in Manipur and West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, he said. Blah said during the current year the project would be expanded to 220 villages.