Skip to content Skip to navigation

Capacity-Building Workshop Empowers Assam and Meghalaya Communities for Sustainable Development

By AT News |

Guwahati: – A transformative capacity-building workshop, “Learning from the Land: Participatory Knowledge Harvest from Assam and Meghalaya,” was held at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus, on Friday, June 27, 2025. Organized by TISS in collaboration with UNDP-SGP, the event brought together over 50 NGOs from Assam and Meghalaya to exchange grassroots knowledge and strategies for sustainable land use, agroecological practices, and environmental conservation.

The workshop aimed to empower local communities by enhancing skills in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, rural development, sustainability, and climate change adaptation. Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia, Campus Director of TISS Guwahati, opened the event, emphasizing the role of academic institutions in amplifying community-driven solutions for national and international impact.
Keynote speaker Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, renowned as Hargila Baideu, shared her eco-feminist journey, highlighting the Hargila Army’s women-led model for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. Dr. Naba Kumar Goswami, Senior Fellow and Regional Coordinator at TERI North East Centre, noted that UNDP-SGP has supported 443 projects across 340+ civil society organizations in India, fostering inclusive environmental restoration.

A dynamic prompt talk series featured insights from experts like Mr. Amba Jamir, who stressed the importance of community-driven policies, and Prof. Sudip Mitra of IIT-Guwahati, who discussed bridging lab innovations with sustainable land practices. Dr. Rahul Mahanta of Cotton University reframed natural changes as “generative disruptions,” while Mr. Tithal Parmar of UNICEF India addressed Guwahati’s sanitation challenges, advocating for interim sewage solutions. Moderated by Dr. Pradeep Ramavath J, the session, flagged by Dr. Abhinandan Saikia, sparked lively discussions among participants.
Breakout sessions showcased inspiring NGO-led initiatives, including seed bank revivals, sacred grove conservation, climate-resilient farming, and inclusive afforestation. Participants highlighted the vital roles of women, elders, and youth in ecosystem preservation, while identifying challenges like limited resources, lack of recognition, and coordination gaps. They called for policy reforms, funding, and partnerships to scale these models.

In the closing ceremony, Dr. John Borgoyary, Regional Head of UNDP North East India, underscored the importance of nurturing the present for future generations, stating, “The present is borrowed from the future to nourish it.” Dr. Abhinandan Saikia delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging participants’ contributions to knowledge creation for sustainable development.

Supported by UNDP-GEF-SGP-TERI, the workshop strengthened NGO networks, fostering a participatory ecosystem for resilience and inclusion. This event marks a significant step in reinforcing community capacities and traditional knowledge systems for sustainable natural resource management in Assam and Meghalaya.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org
  • 98219 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Voting Underway Across Assam; Steady Turnout, Peaceful Polling

Voting for the Assam Assembly elections gathered steady momentum through the morning hours on April 9, with scenes from across the state reflecting a strong and participatory democratic exercise. By mid-morning, polling booths were already witnessing long queues, as men and women, young voters and the elderly alike, stepped out early to cast their votes. The initial hours after 9 AM saw a smooth and peaceful polling process, backed by visible security presence and efficient booth management. In Guwahati, the day unfolded with a calm yet purposeful energy. Polling stations across the city saw a steady stream of voters, many arriving with family members, some even accompanied by children,...

From Dance Floors to Screen: The Journey of Susovan Sonu Roy

Susovan Sonu Roy has steadily carved a place for himself across multiple creative fields—Bengali television, modelling, and films—building his career through persistence, training, and adaptability. Born in Howrah, Susovan spent his formative years between Kolkata and Guwahati. His early life was marked by hardship after losing his father in an accident at a young age. Raised by his mother under challenging circumstances, he went on to complete his graduation in Commerce from Dum Dum Motijheel Rabindra Mahavidyalaya in 2016. His entry into the performing arts began with dance. Driven by interest, he joined a dance institute where he trained in Western dance for nearly two years....

Row Erupts Over Alleged Foreign Wealth Links of Assam CM’s Family

A major political controversy has erupted around Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Congress party levelled serious allegations regarding the alleged accumulation of vast wealth abroad by his family, particularly involving his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. According to a report by The Wire, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that assets worth nearly ₹52,000 crore have been stashed overseas, particularly in the United States, through a company allegedly linked to the Chief Minister’s family. At a press conference in New Delhi, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and questioned the source of such large-scale wealth. He further demanded a probe and even called...

Tai-Ahom Organisations Renew Autonomy Demand, Hold Press Meet in Dispur

Guwahati, April 3, 2026: The Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham State Demand Committee and the Moung-Dun-Chun-Kham People’s Party on Friday held a press conference at the Dispur Press Club, reiterating their demand for permanent political rights and autonomy for the Tai-Ahom community in Assam. Addressing the media, representatives of the organisations stated that despite the Tai-Ahom community’s historical and demographic significance, successive governments have failed to provide meaningful constitutional safeguards. “At present, almost all indigenous communities of Assam… have been raising demands for autonomy or self-determination under the Indian Constitution,” the press release noted,...

Youth Leaders Unite in Cachar to Champion River Governance and Community Resilience

A three-day workshop titled “Youth Leaders for Rivers: Learning Workshop” concluded today at the Cachar Club Conference Hall, bringing together young leaders from across the region to collaborate on river governance, water rights and community resilience. Organized by the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) with support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the event was held from March 24 to 26 under the Youth Basin Ambassadors (YBA) initiative. It aimed to connect youth working across the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Basin and deepen their understanding of river systems, governance challenges and community-driven solutions. Participants included...

ULFA(I) Attack on Police Camp in Assam’s Tinsukia Injures Four, Sparks Security Concerns

Tinsukia, March 22:  Suspected militants of the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I) launched a pre-dawn attack on an Assam Police commando camp in the Jagun area of Tinsukia district, leaving at least four security personnel injured. According to reports, the militants attacked the camp around 2 a.m., allegedly lobbing several grenades and opening fire with automatic weapons. Security forces retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for several minutes before the attackers fled the scene. The injured personnel were later shifted to a hospital in Dibrugarh for treatment. Following the attack, Army and police units launched a joint...

WWF-India Honours Top ‘Mission Prakriti’ Schools in Assam

WWF-India, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam, felicitated five top-performing schools under the ‘Mission Prakriti’ programme for 2025–26 at a ceremony in Guwahati. The initiative promotes environmental awareness among students through themes like biodiversity, water, waste, food, and energy. In Assam, the programme covers over 4,700 schools across all districts. The award-winning schools include Natun Fatasil Town HS (Kamrup Metro), Sakai Khangia High School (Jorhat), Bishnu Jyoti MES (Sonitpur), PM Shri Jamira HS School (Hailakandi), and PM Shri Gossaigaon Girls HS School (Kokrajhar). Tinsukia district was also recognised as the best-performing district. Officials...

Assam’s Tirtha Prasad Saikia Appointed APRCEM Focal Point for Conflict and Disaster-Affected Communities

Jorhat: Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), an indigenous civil society organisation based in Jorhat, Assam, has been appointed as the Constituency Focal Point for the People Affected by Conflict and Disaster Constituency of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM). APRCEM is a regional civil society platform that brings together organisations across Asia and the Pacific to engage with intergovernmental processes on sustainable development, particularly the implementation and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this organisational role,...

GHADC Polls Postponed After Violence in West Garo Hills

SHILLONG, Mar 11: The Meghalaya government has postponed the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) that were scheduled to be held on April 10, 2026, following violent clashes in West Garo Hills that left two people dead. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the state government reviewed the prevailing law-and-order situation in the Garo Hills region before deciding to defer the polls. The unrest erupted during the nomination process in Chibinang in West Garo Hills, where clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the participation of non-tribal candidates in the GHADC elections. Two persons were killed...

Meghalaya High Court Quashes ST Certificate Rule for GHADC Polls

The Meghalaya High Court has set aside a controversial notification that made possession of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for candidates contesting the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). Delivering the judgment on March 10, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew ruled that the February 17, 2026 notification issued by the GHADC Executive Committee lacked legal authority and did not follow the procedure required under the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951. The court observed that the notification effectively barred non-tribal voters and candidates from participating in the council elections...