Guwahati, June 7: In a significant move towards sustainable development, over 80 Karbi village headmen (Rong Asar), community leaders, youth, and women convened on June 2 at the Kohora Soil Conservation Department IB for a workshop titled “Nature, Culture and Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource for Sustainable Village Development – Role of Rong Asar.”
The event was organised by Aaranyak in collaboration with Karbi Rong Asar Amei (KRAA), Karbi Cultural Society (KCS), and the Department of Arts & Culture, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
The workshop emphasised the integration of traditional Karbi ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation strategies. Discussions centred on organising village-level awareness programs in the Kohora and Diring river basins, aiming to align cultural practices with sustainable natural resource management.
Dilip Kathar from the Department of Arts & Culture highlighted the intrinsic link between Karbi traditions and nature, citing traditional bio-indicators used for weather prediction and agricultural practices. He stressed that destabilising nature could disrupt cultural systems, underscoring the need for widespread conservation awareness.
Humsing Bey, President of KCS, addressed the challenges of unsustainable resource harvesting, leading to crises in several villages. Dhormo Teron, President of KRRA, pointed out the erosion of traditional knowledge due to generational gaps, emphasising the urgency of preserving cultural practices.
Devinson Terrang, Chairman of the Dolamara Biodiversity Management Committee, advocated for nurturing all living beings and highlighted the role of the Biodiversity Act in documenting and safeguarding community knowledge. Renowned Karbi singer and cultural researcher Chandra Kanta Terang also emphasised the importance of village-level awareness campaigns for sustainable resource management.
Dr. Firoz Ahmed of Aaranyak discussed grievance redressal mechanisms and the pivotal role of Rong Asar in village development. Sarlongjon Teron from Aaranyak briefed participants on the organisation’s initiatives across Northeast India, focusing on empowerment, conservation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development opportunities in Karbi Anglong.
The workshop concluded with a consensus among Rong Asar and community leaders to organise conservation education programs across 10 villages in the Kohora and Diring river basins. They plan to collaborate with the Kohora Area Protection Committee to finalise dates and venues, marking a proactive step towards community-led conservation and sustainable development in the region.
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