Tamenglong receives fillip from UNDP

IMPHAL, April 8: The Assisted Bio-diversity and Tribal Development Project initiated under the United Nations Development Programme has proved to be an immense boon for the all round development of the people of Tamenglong. Ten villages in Tamenglong district have received great benefits from the two-year project, which began last year. During a consultative workshop on 'Bio-diversity Conservation - From a Project to a Policy', held at Hotel Imphal today, representatives of the ten villages expressed their profound gratitude over the positive developments they have received from the project. Apart from gaining knowledge on the method of controlling 'jhumming' cultivation and promote terrace farming, the villagers said they also received material benefits from the project including rice mill, power driven pump sets, CGI sheets etc. The villagers also urged the project staff to extend the term of the project, which is being manned by TD. Talking to The Sangai Express, S Vettivel, Consultant, UNDP said that the project has benefited the villagers in more than one way. He said the project has made the villagers aware of the need and benefit of bio-diversity conservation and also helped to give a fillip to the means of livelihood of the villagers. He however said the request of the villagers to extend the project was not possible as it (project) is a one-time funding. Under the project the villagers have, also taken up horticulture in a big way and have learnt the technique of double cropping. Knowledge of shadow plantation was also imparted to the villagers. Rajmohon, Associate Professor, MU, who also attended the workshop asked the villagers to prepare a data of species of plants and animals which could have been affected by the project so that alternative arrangements could be made to preserve them. He added that Manipur is one of the hottest spot of bio-diversity in the country.