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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.

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