Shillong, July 12: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today visited the iconic living root bridge in Siej village, Meghalaya, describing it as a globally relevant example of indigenous ecological innovation and sustainability.
Sitharaman interacted with village elders, local leaders, and beneficiaries of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programme—an initiative supported by the World Bank, KfW, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)—to understand how indigenous communities are preserving and evolving ecological practices passed down through generations.
Praising the community’s commitment to living in harmony with nature, she said, “For over a hundred years, you have maintained a culture that respects nature and fosters sustainable mobility—even finding ways to connect across rivers without violating the living trees.”
She hailed the living root bridges as a “classic example of living with nature and doing the maximum,” adding that such structures offer valuable lessons for a world grappling with climate challenges. “At a time when the world is searching for sustainable solutions, the people of Siej have shown what is possible through simple, nature-aligned practices. Your solutions are effective, replicable, and inspirational,” she said.
The Minister also extended support to the ongoing community-led initiative to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the living root bridges. “Recognition is not for showing off, but for showing the world that you did it first,” she remarked, urging that such traditional systems deserve a place on global platforms for their innovation and resilience.
Sitharaman’s visit reflects the Government of India’s broader push to promote traditional ecological knowledge and integrate it into national and global environmental policy frameworks. She said the community’s practices exemplify the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has advocated for an environmentally conscious lifestyle.
“This is the kind of green heritage that the world needs to learn from,” she said, highlighting how intergenerational stewardship has helped sustain these bridges, with elders actively nurturing the roots even today. “The symbolic gesture of adding nutrition to the roots was not just personal—it was inspirational.”
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