GUWAHATI, Apr 17: With the aim of mobilising local communities for playing an effective role in preserving and co-managing of Deepor beel sustainably in partnership with government agencies and civil society, a consultation workshop was organised by NGO Aaranyak on April 12 in collaboration with the Paschim Guwahati Mahavidyalaya (PGM), Dharapur, Kamrup Metropolitan District at the conference hall of the college. This was informed by NGO publicity secretary Dr. Alolika Sinha here today.
In its press statement, the NGO informed that several resource persons including Dr Rana Sarmah, Principal, PGM, Dr Sudip Kanta Basistha, GIZ-India, Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Senior Scientist from Aaranyak, Sri Rituraj Dewan, Simang Collectives Pvt Ltd., Dr Bidyut Bikash Sharma, Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University and Dr. Marie Kalita, Faculty in English Department, PGM addressed the audience and spoke about different dimensions of the importance of the wetland for the lives and livelihoods of the people and the environmental security and sustainability of the Guwahati city.
Umed Ali Ahmed of Dharapur and Mukul Das of Matia addressed the gathering as community representatives. Both provided valuable information and insight from an insider’s perspective highlighting intricate socio-ecological issues.
Dr Partha Jyoti Das, Head of Water, Climate and Hazard Division of Aaranyak welcomed the participants and coordinated the event on behalf of Aaranyal, while Dr Moinul Hoque Choudhry, Faculty, Department of Political Science, PGM coordinated the event on the part of the college and delivered the vote of thanks.
The meeting concluded with the overall message that the government, local people, and civil society must act in tandem with an integrated management approach for the protection of the Deepor Beel and improve the livelihood situation of the riparian people.
The event was instituted as part of an ongoing study on ‘Assessment of the socioeconomic and livelihood conditions of the communities living on the banks of the Deepor Beel’, by Aaranyak in collaboration with the GIZ-India and the Assam Forest Department, the NGO informed.