Meghgalaya’s Jingkieng Jri (Living Root Bridge) are trailblazers that not only highlight the symbiotic relationship between Nature and human culture to a global audience, but more so, it focuses on the need to adopt a balanced approach between economy and ecology, something which the state Government has been working tirelessly in the past few years. This was stated by the Chief Minister Conrad. K. Sangma at the National Convention on Community and Science based Conservation Research and Development of Jingkieng Jri held at the state Convention Center, Shillong on Dec 21, 2021.

The National convention witnessed the presence of the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, scientists from across the Nation including community representatives and members of the Living Root Bridge (Jingkieng Jri) Co operative Societies from across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and region. Each of them shared the initiatives being taken by their respective cooperative societies towards not only preserving the Jingkieng Jris but also preserving the biodiversity (Flora and Fauna) in and around each Living Root Bridge in their respective villages.

The Chief Minister also stated that as part of World Bank supported ‘Meghalaya Community-Led Landscape Management Project’, the Government of Meghalaya is currently developing a Conservation, Research and Development plan for UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination of Jingkieng Jri. Under this, Mariang Jingkieng Jri Cooperative Societies are being nurtured within a State level federation to facilitate an equitable development vision for all. Apart from this, a wide array of NRM activities is also being implemented in the State and even through externally aided projects like the World Bank, among others.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister also highlighted the concept of ‘Just Transition’ where he laid emphasis on ensuring a transitional process that is just for all, so that environment conservation is brought about while ensuring livelihoods for the primary force. “As a State Government, we have been extensively working towards Natural Resource Management where we are focusing on creation of livelihood out of the natural resources that we possess, so we use them in a sustained manner and yet create a parallel economy with more inclusive forms of livelihood, while keeping the ecology at the forefront”, he added.

“This National conclave on Jingkieng Jri focuses on just one part of the massive big picture on Natural Resource Management that we are trying to bring about and we feel that the Living Root bridge Conservation project could be a lighthouse project that would bring attention to the need for NRM interventions to preserve the ecosystem while facilitating sustainable livelihoods”, the CM added. He also thanked the community for their support and said that their contribution will go a long way in achieving the long term impact through this Jingkieng Jri Project while also realizing the overall NRM goals.

He said that if the Living Root bridges of Meghalaya receive the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, it would be more about the larger message that we would be giving to the world that the Living Root Bridge is an ecosystem in itself, supporting many birds, animals, lichen, mushrooms, flowers, trees, serving its simple purpose while allowing the humans to cross over them for their living. The process of making these bridges is an age-old craft, a very much living and alive tradition among the locals in the present age. It is crucial to archive this age-old wisdom of not only making, but more so, conserving the bridges and the related ecosystem.

It may be mentioned that many such living root bridges in the forests are conserved by the communities of Meghalaya in the customary practice of preserving the sacred groves known as ‘Law Kyntang’. These forests also possess a huge resource of medicinal plants and herbs. There lies a dire need for the larger world to go back to its roots and respect nature once again.

Speaking at the event, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India said that the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya which highlights the socio-cultural, social and botanical links among people and Nature is well deserving of the tag of UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the rich micro as well as the macro world associated with the Jingkieng Jri, which will also initiate the need for their preservation and conservation.

In his opening remarks, Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya and CEO, MBDA, said that the confluence of both scientists and people from the grassroots together in one platform is a wonderful idea. While the traditional knowledge of living root bridges is ancient, research on their ecosystem has become altogether more important to improve their conservation.

The community representatives of the Jingkieng Jri cooperatives spoke at length at the National conclave and shared their experiences and unique initiatives. They highlighted interesting activities being undertaken by them, which involved not only keeping alive the age old craft of building the living root bridges and preserving them but also their involvement in a wide array activities such as preserving medicinal herbs, keeping traditional games alive, handicraft activities, planting fruit seedlings, protecting the natural habitat in and around the root bridges. The event also witnessed performances from the community members of the Jingkieng Jri Cooperative societies.

Iora Dkhar, Chairperson of the Syrwet u Barim Mariang Jingkieng Jri Cooperative Federation Ltd., spoke on the importance of cooperatives for bringing about collective action among communities to preserve the knowledge and skills that have evolved through generations.

The conclave saw the presence of Scientists from all over the country representing Geological Survey of India (GSI), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Forest Research Institute, and Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University. Presentations on the observations made from various site visits were shared by the scientists who included Dr. A.A Mao, Director, Botanical Survey of India, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director, Zoological Survey of India, Dr. C. Murugan, Scientist, Botanical Survey of India, Dr. Lucy Nongbri, Post Doctoral Research, Renee M Borges Lab, Indian Institute of Science, Prof. Renee Borges, Center for Ecological sciences, Indian Institute of Science, among a group of about 50 scientists and environment specialists.

The National Convention is a follow up of the field visits made by the scientists wherein they came across unique species of orchids, amphibians, and mammals which have not yet been reported from anywhere in the country. The field visits also revealed key findings that indicated urgent need for attention to strengthen conservation measures for these unique living structures. The scientists in a unanimous voice said that the living root bridges are a house of several critically endangered species of flora and fauna and therefore are definitely a reason to be considered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From being water-deficient to becoming water-surplus, this is the story of a village called Niriang in West Jaintia Hills District.

Despite receiving high rainfall, water scarcity has become an issue across the State, especially in recent years. Natural springs and underground water are drying up due to a dearth of corrective and remedial measures. The problem is intensifying with every passing year and may become unmanageable if due attention and collective efforts from all concerned are not carried out.

Situated 10 kilometers from Jowai, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills, Niriang village under Thadlaskein Block also struggled with water supply. Though rich in vegetation with beautiful landscapes, the village had to contend with this issue for years. An intervention had earlier been put in place but the water supply was inadequate due to disrupted services and a poor connection that could not cater to the entire village. It did not cover the daily requirements for domestic purposes and left its resident dependent on springs and wells. Moreover, with the increase in the number of households, now totaling 224, the water needs also increased. And those residing farther from the water source would need to travel at least 30 minutes to fetch water, to and fro, three times to four times daily, and carried out by women and children.

Before Intervention:

Niriang has a perennial spring which is located at a hilltop making it quite tedious to fetch water. It may be mentioned that the land where the spring originates belongs to the community. As Niriang is a Megha-LAMP village, a plan was prepared to initiate different interventions that will address the issue holistically and uplift the living conditions of the people.

Hence, it was in 2019, following several rounds of awareness programs, meetings, and PRA exercises, led by the District Project Management Unit (DPMU) of West Jaintia Hills District that the village agreed on the implementation of a community-led NRM plan under Megha-LAMP. The village came up with a priority list of interventions that included tapping the perennial spring via the construction of a water tank that has since gone a long way in resolving the issue.

About the Intervention:

A preliminary survey to understand clearly the kind of intervention that will be most sustainable and productive was made by the INRM staff of Megha-LAMP stationed in Jowai. They were ably assisted by the community of Niriang. Meetings and awareness programs were then conducted to clear doubts, elucidate the approach, and identify community needs based on priorities. Following several deliberations, a final plan was prepared together by the project and the community.

A site inspection to study the feasibility before work started was the first step. The findings revealed that for best long-term results, a spring chamber box and a water storage tank must be constructed. GI Pipes will be used to draw water from the spring to the tank without using a mechanical pump as the spring is located at an elevated area while the water storage tank will be constructed on a lower ground level. This will help to protect the spring water from contamination.

Budget Allocation:

The spring chamber box was constructed through convergence between Megha-LAMP, MGNREGA, and the community of Niriang. The total cost of construction was ₹ 48,210.00. The break-up of the budget was Megha-LAMP: ₹ 19,326, MGNREGA: ₹ 25,984, and Community Contribution: ₹ 2,900.00.

The water tank is a permanent structure to store water for supplying to the community. This project was also constructed through convergence between Megha-LAMP, MGNREGA, and Community Contribution. The total cost of construction was ₹ 1, 25,650. The breakup of the budget was Megha-LAMP: ₹ 49,130, MGNREGA: ₹ 69,020, and Community Contribution: ₹ 69,020.00.

The GI Pipes were installed by Megha-LAMP and the community. Megha-LAMP’s contribution was ₹ 1, 28,430, and community contribution was ₹ 22,600. The total cost was ₹ 1, 51,030. All work was completed in the course of 2 months, starting on 3rd December 2020 and ending on 3rd February 2021.

The water source protected with cemented plastering

Impact:

The NRM intervention at Niriang has since proven to be very beneficial for the village as a whole. Smt. Baian Blah (MCS) Block Development Officer, Thadlaskein stated her contentment with how enormously the intervention has helped the people. “The village had been struggling with water shortage considerably, but now, it is pleasing to witness reliable water supply all through the year.” She added that the significance of the project was that it is demand-driven, which meant that the people were given the lead to select the kind of interventions that would best serve their needs. Blah is working towards facilitating more convergence works between departments and livelihood-promotion institutions such as Megha-LAMP to address other needs of the village.

Echoing similar views, the VEC Secretary who is also the Village Facilitator (VF), Bah Praising Muruh mentioned that since the implementation of the project, the village has changed from a water-deficient to a water surplus village. “With readily available water supply to all corners of the village, we are encouraged to see people spread out and settle in other parts of the village, which previously were areas not feasible for settlement given the absence of a trusted water connection”.

Kong Redial Suting, a resident of the village, expressed her happiness with the success of the project in bringing about a positive change in their village. “We no longer need to travel up the hill to fetch water. The drudgery has been reduced by a great extent. We can now utilize our time in gardening, household chores, and other activities”

Way Forward

With their water issue firmly behind, the community’s focus has shifted. The awareness programs and capacity-building exercises provided to the Village Facilitators, the Watershed volunteers, the VEC members, and their people have helped them understand the impending impact of climate change on their flora and fauna, their water bodies, and their natural resources. In preparation, the village is taking active steps to protect their catchment areas and are carrying out regular tree plantation drives. The community remains open to working in partnership with various projects and government departments so that they are facilitated with adaptation measures to climate change.

Sasatgre Village lies at the foothill of Nokrek peak, under Rongram Block in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district and is 32 kilometres away from Tura. Shri Dharmen Momin is an entrepreneur, and tourists know him for his warm welcoming nature. As a sole earner and active member of Sasatgre village, Shri Dharmen longed to revive the oldest Garo recipe “Karitchi” or local soda, and was selected as one of the Innovators under the Community-Led Landscape Management (CLLMP) project in 2020

Early life

Shri Dharmen G. Momin was born on 11th April 1984, in Sasatgre village. He studied up to class ten (10) in Govt Boys’ Hr Secondary School Tura. He married Smt. Pringchita B. Sangma from Wanangre, Ampati village, in 2007, and they raised three children together.

He worked as a peon from 2001 and 2002, under the Election Commission office, West Garo Hills, Tura, and as a Secretary in sanitation and literacy (Block Level) under Rongram Block from 2004 to 2009. After that, he tried his luck as a businessman and opened a mobile phone shop at Rongram bazaar from 2010-2015. During this time, he also worked as a videographer for NESFAS in Shillong.

Dharmen is also an avid storyteller and, in his free time, would usually entertain children with old stories about his grandparents. His love for traditional knowledge grew from his younger years and while working with various departments, he started gathering knowledge on business, communication skills, hospitality besides promoting local cuisine and local soda making to expand his social circle

He soon began promoting cultural products, cuisines, ingredients (local soda), bamboo baskets, etc. He also attended many events, including the “Terra Madre” in 2015, where he promoted indigenous slow-mo food like “Karitchi”. Hence, he became one of the representatives of his village to promote Garo culture and tradition.

The idea of making Karitchi came to him when he noticed that not many people in Garo Hills were producing the local soda despite the massive banana plantations in and around the region.

“Banana plantations are being done and grown anywhere in this temperature, and to make this soda, wildly available banana stem is good enough,”

In 2014, Shri. Dharmen had gone to Italy to introduce Karitchi to the people under Food Security NESFAS while working as a participatory video maker. He received a warm response from the people who seemed to enjoy listening to him as he explained the process of making the soda. Some also wished to buy the product.

“These days many people buy readymade soda or Sodium Bicarbonate anywhere from the grocery stores/chemists shops,”

Since then, he decided to focus on making “Karitchi” (a soul ingredient to add while making the famous Garo Cuisine called “Kappa”).

Shri. Dharmen also stated that at first, he made the soda for personal consumption and only began making Karitchi for commercial sale in 2020.

CLLMP INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE “KARITCHI”

It was then when the District Knowledge Management (KM) team of West Garo Hills met him in 2020 to learn more about his interest in reviving “Karitchi”. He narrated his story and came to know that he was well-known among various departments.

A Technical & Financial Feasibility tour was conducted on 20th January 2020 to his proposed site and the CLLMP field engineer along with the KM unit of West Garo Hills submitted the reports to the SPMU-KM.

BEST PRACTICE

“When I was in Italy, I was nervous but when I started talking about my traditional indigenous liquid soda I was proud.”

On closer observation, this became a unique proposal that could be showcased all over the world.

The indigenous way of making liquid soda is considered a best practice because it is not seen or practised anywhere else. Through CLLMP, Shri. Dharmen was presented with an opportunity to expand his business and focus more on encouraging the locals to consume locally available Sodas for cooking as this is better than Sodium Bicarbonate.

That way, he wanted to promote and revive this lost “Indigenous Liquid Soda”.

Above all of his qualities, he is well equipped with communication skills. He has become an example for all the other upcoming and interested entrepreneurs who wanted to revive their cultural values and traditional knowledge. As mentioned earlier, he had been to Italy all by himself and was confident in taking on the challenges ahead.

The process of making “Karitchi”

The process of making karitchi involved peeling and drying the banana stalk. It begins in October, and the peeled-off stalk is put out to dry till December. The stalk is then burnt, and the ashes are put in the “gengreng” spoon made of bamboo. Three layers of bamboo leaves line the gengreng, and a piece of charcoal is used at the bottom to filter the water that is poured into it. The charcoal can also be adjusted with a small piece of bamboo if the water droplets flow too fast.

One disadvantage is that the ashes cannot be kept in bamboo baskets or aluminium utensils, as this would cause the ashes to lose their potency. Therefore, the ashes are kept in airtight plastic containers. After the filtration, the final product can be used for consumption.

The Karitchi is sold for Rs 100 per litre and Rs 50 for half a litre. According to Shri. Dharmen, the final product can be stored up to a year and lasts longer if kept in glass bottles.

On being asked, Shri. Dharmen stated that he would start making the soda in October and would carry on up to April. The process ensures that he has enough stock to sell for the entire year.

Kalchi in Cooking

A few tablespoons of ‘kalchi’ are enough to prepare some well-known Garo recipes such as wak kappa, do’o kappa, nakam bitchi, etc.

While cooking soda can be harmful for daily consumption, it is believed that ‘kalchi’ is organic and safe for daily consumption. However, there is no scientific evidence to support it.

Method of preparing ‘kalchi’

Step 1: ‘Kalchi’ is generally prepared from banana tree trunks.

Step 2: Peeling off the skins of banana trunks.

Step 3: Let the peels dry out in the sun for few days.

Step 4: Burn the dried banana trunks to ashes.

Step 5: Crush till it turns into a fine powder and is ready to be stored in containers.

Setting up Bee Keeping Business:

Besides the Karitchi business, Shri Dharmen is also a beekeeper and recalled collecting honey from the jungles of Nokrek back in his early days. As he took up beekeeping in 2015, he began promoting locally sourced honey as well. Then also began selling honey in the weekly markets, and following the high rise in demand for local honey, he decided to consider beekeeping as another source of income.

With help from the Horticulture Department, he attended training sessions on beekeeping at Umran RRTC in Ri-bhoi in 2018. Though he didn’t receive any other support, he took a loan of Rs 4 lakhs from PMEGP to set up his beekeeping business.

Currently, there are 38 colonies in his apiary. The species of bees are “Apis Cerana Indica” locally known as “Bija kol”.

Do.patchi Homestay

Do.patchi is a Garo name given to a bird that lives on the thatched roof of a hut. Do.patchi is also known as a swallow. Do.patchi Homestay also serves as a bird sanctuary, and this idea came to Shri. Dharmen when he noticed that many Do.patchi birds would visit his house, which has a thatched roof.

Thus, he decided to build the homestay out of bamboo and made sure it had a thatched roof as he wanted to set up a safe place for the birds.

The Do.patchi Homestay was inaugurated in November 2019 by Shri. Ram Singh (IAS), the D.C. of West Garo Hills District, Tura. We may note that international tourists have visited the homestay apart from local tourists. The homestay comes for Rs 1,500 per night, and one can experience the traditional Garo lifestyle. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, tourists have currently stopped visiting the place.

Future Plan and Goal

Shri. Dharmen stated that he wants to protect the animals and birds in his village. Besides this, he wants to conserve the lush green forests and stated that he already tried his best to identify and protect medicinal plants growing around the area. He never eats meat because his purpose is to save animals and birds from extinction. He planned to work in Nokrek, but this came to a standstill due to the lack of support.

Apart from being a nature lover, he enjoys researching topics on biodiversity, tradition, and culture. He said he loves his birthplace because of its natural beauty and peaceful environment and advocates for a clean and green environment.

Shri. Dharmen’s dedication and hard work made him a very successful and popular entrepreneur. He had the support of his family, and according to him, this is one of the reasons he could overcome the many challenges. His goal is to keep making soda and sustain his honey business to usher in sustainability and a better way of life.

He also wants his community to be supportive and help him in growing his business. As he says, “They live with me, and I live with them.”

On 30th May 2021, five labourers were trapped in a rat-hole coal mine located at Krem Ule, Umpleng in East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya, India, following a dynamite blast gone awry. The explosion led to water from a nearby source flooding the mine, and in an instant, all escape routes were blocked. The Government of Meghalaya launched an immediate search and rescue mission and was supported by the Navy team and personnel from the National and the State Disaster Response Forces, the SRT, and the District Administration, but as per reports dated July 8th in the Shillong Times, rescue efforts stand officially suspended 40 days into the operation. Of those five trapped, only three bodies were retrieved and handed over to family members.

The tragedy was on no account the first instance in the State as such disasters are troublingly frequent – two other major incidents reported in the last three years which combined, accounted for the lives of 21 people – but it may well not be the last as coal mining remains a lucrative source of livelihood for many of the region’s poorer sections despite the presence of general awareness on the many hazards that are associated with it. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had, in 2014, issued a notification to completely ban rat-hole coal mining. However, rampant unscientific and unregulated mining activities were reported to have continued illegally, and an adverse consequence of this is the region’s ecosystems becoming greatly in need of land reclamation interventions. Coal mining, particularly the rat-hole kind, coupled with an absence of post-mining treatment measures has contributed to land degradation, pollution, water contamination, and a big loss of biodiversity.

In 2021, the Government of Meghalaya announced that the Supreme Court of India passed an order to lift the ban following the finalization of standard operating protocols that permitted only scientific and legal coal mining activities. Even so, East Jaintia Hills District remains rife with rumours of illegal coal mining.

Photo Courtesy: Indian Express

The onus has always firmly resided with the State and the policymakers to create alternative livelihood opportunities for the community. Thankfully, steps have been taken to control the illegal aspects of the activity and to spread awareness about all health and environment-related ramifications, some led by NGOs and some by activists, while an externally-aided project of the State, the IFAD-supported Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP) launched coincidently in 2014, became an option for the people to consider should they choose to pursue a different way of life.

32-year-old Sunshine Ryngkhlem from Wapung Skur Village can attest to the same. He is presently a thriving pig farmer and a service provider on behalf of Megha-LAMP, but for 9 long years, he was a daily wage labourer in the coal mines of East Jaintia Hills District.

Ryngkhlem worked as a mason in his younger days before making the transition to daily wager/miner in 2005 at the age of 16. In his own words, he chose to work in the mines because he was young and was attracted by the riches that came with it and because for a school drop-out, there was a dearth of other livelihood avenues. He disclosed that there were times when he would earn up to Rs. 10,000 per week, which were high wages comparatively. After the NGT ban, however, he was forced to re-evaluate his options. Admittedly, the lingering dream was always to become a farmer in the livestock sector. And as the issues of unregulated mining grew in the State, he started to also become cognizant of the ill effects of unscientific coal mining and future health implications, and most importantly, of how it could impact his family if he continued with the profession.

“If I owned a coal mine, the story would be different as I would have become very wealthy. As only a miner, however, I would have remained just that – a miner who can never know when the last trip down the rat hole would be. After years in the mines, I came to realise that there was no job satisfaction. I was also very conscious of the risks. I made the choice to step away for my family”

Ryngkhlem considers himself one of the luckier ones because he owned a small plot of land, and choices to start something completely independent from coal mining have always existed. In 2014, he finally decided to walk away from mining in exchange for investing all of his savings into setting up a small piggery farm on his land. He started with just two pigs.

In the early days, methods of rearing however were traditional, and these caused many of his piglets to die soon after birth. On his way to the veterinary doctor one day, he met with a friend who worked in an Enterprise Facilitation Centre (EFC), an institutional platform and a cornerstone innovation of Megha-LAMP’s implementation agency, the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA).

Before Megha-LAMP, EFCs were set up to act as an interface with the citizens for providing information on livelihood opportunities in the enterprise development sector, and for facilitating grassroots initiatives that can be taken up by communities across the State. The role of EFCs under Megha-LAMP has since evolved. Apart from the above, they also facilitate access to finance and link entrepreneurs to sources of technical advice, input suppliers, and market outlets. Further, they provide up-to-date recommendations on available schemes that are relevant to the partners/entrepreneurs’ interests.

Ryngkhlem was recommended by his friend to get himself registered with the EFC in Khliehriat Block, East Jaintia Hills District for availing the opportunities that come hand in hand with registration.

The EFC arranged for his participation in various capacity-building training sessions and workshops on livestock. He learned about vaccination methods, proper feeding routines, sanitation, and gestation periods. In no time, the number of pigs had increased to 80, and these include piglets that were sold between Rs. 3000 and Rs. 3500. Full-grown pigs were sold at Rs. 15,000.

Megha-LAMP is promoting collective marketing initiatives to ameliorate the position of farmers in supply chains to help them reclaim bargaining power and become more competitive, to cut costs of transportation and storage, and to minimize the influence of middlemen. The project has set up Collective Marketing Centres (CMC) in 77 locations across the State for facilitating marketing and aggregation activities. The target is to establish 90. Further, another of Megha-LAMP’s multi-faceted objectives is to keep pace with the escalating needs in the agriculture sector after seeing the twin impact of a shortage of human labour and rising costs of cultivation on the farmers. 18 Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) have been set up under phase 1 of implementation, one in each project Block of Meghalaya. They provide fee-based custom hiring of Agri tools and farm machinery at reasonable and fair charges.

These CMCs and CHCs were designed to be owned and managed by the Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) which are village-level Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) set up by the project to ensure basic financial services such as thrift and credit so that rural farming households can take up higher and expanded economic activities to enhance income and quality of life. Wapung Skur Village is a Megha-LAMP village and is home to the Wapung Skur IVCS Ltd., which looks after the functioning of both the CMC and CHC set up in the village. The progressive Ryngkhlem was identified by the project to be the Secretary of the IVCS and to be the Secretary/Manager of both the CMC and the CHC. In 2019, he was also recruited as a service provider for piggery-related initiatives.

The decision he made to put coal mining in the rear-view mirror has paid off. He stated that although his plate may be full, there is proper job satisfaction and he remains highly motivated and committed to helping his community members. There are no off-seasons and work is full-time. Combined yearly income from all activities on average is in excess of Rs. 3,00,000. When asked, Ryngkhlem does concede that incomes were higher during the mining days, but he maintains that the activity was never going to be sustainable in the long-term given the associated risks.

“I would request my fellow farmers to consider getting involved in the farming sector, be it in agriculture, piggery or poultry. Mining can be a lucrative venture, but the question I pose is if it’s worth risking your health and your life. Reports of rat-hole coal mining accidents have unfortunately become commonplace. If the State can guarantee only scientific and safe mining, then there wouldn’t be an issue and these incidents wouldn’t happen.”

The multitasking duties for Megha-LAMP apart, Ryngkhlem is in the process of upscaling activities and expanding his mini-farm. The hope is to turn it into a bigger facility cum training institute where aspiring entrepreneurs can enroll to be trained on the many facets of pig farming including productive farm management.

There are many others like Sunshine Ryngkhlem who decided to leave behind coal mining for collaboration with the state-wide livelihoods-promotion intervention that is Megha-LAMP. A key aim of the project is to invest in the development and organization of farmers through producer groups and enterprises operating within village clusters for improving production, enabling aggregation, and for collective marketing. In East Jaintia Hills District, Megha-LAMP has facilitated the formation of 82 producer groups in total. The following 3 however, are producer groups that are made up of members who were previously daily labourers in the coal mines.

“After the ban on coal mining, we were faced with a conundrum. Being daily wagers in the coal mines was all that we knew. Thankfully, Megha-LAMP came to intercept at the right time. Sensitization programs helped us learn about project initiatives and hence, we decided to register with the EFC. We were shown that there are other ways to make a living – a healthier way of life. We are now in the farming sector and recently, we were mobilized to form producer groups for availing opportunities that could help upscale activities and enhance incomes”– Mr. Jing Ksoo, member of Tuber Sohshrieh Ginger PG

Umpung Village Setting Examples Of Good Governance

Umpung Village is located about 72kms from Mawkyrwat, the district headquarters of South West Khasi Hills District. The village is under the Ranikor C & RD Block and is about 10kms from Balat Market, one of Meghalaya’s two trade markets along the Indo-Bangla border, the other being in Kalaichar, South West Garo Hills District. Umpung is one of the oldest villages in the area, formed about 70 years ago. It is governed by a traditional village dorbar, and a Myntri appointed by the Hima is the chairman/head of the village. Its community is largely engaged in agriculture activities while a small percentage of the populace is involved in other livelihood activities. The village is also a popular tourist stop.

Umpung is known for the Umngi River which passes through the village, the Umpung bridge across this river, the Umngi Fish Sanctuary, and the Hill Myna Sanctuary. It is also one of the 15 villages in South West Khasi Hills associated with the “Friends of the Umngi River”, a local non-profit organization that has worked tirelessly to preserve the ecosystems in and around the river. The village is also renowned for its various innovative policies against environmental contamination and has been an example for other villages in the global action against plastic pollution.

Hill Myna Sanctuary

The Dorbar Shnong of Umpung came up with an inspired approach to preserve and safeguard the Hill Myna, the State Bird of Meghalaya which is on the endangered species list. The bird has made Umpung its home for generations. In stories told by the elders of the community, the Hill Mynas would roam the skies freely and coexist with the people of the village. A developing trend lately however has been the growth in demand for these birds at the black markets. They would be captured during the breeding and nurturing seasons when they are most vulnerable, and sold or smuggled to Bangladesh. The village witnessed the number of Hill Mynas dwindle with every passing year. On being made cognizant of this, Umpung laid down strict regulations that prohibit the poaching and capturing of the birds anywhere within its jurisdiction. The village was aided in its mission by the youth, women groups, and volunteers who would patrol the area during the breeding seasons and keep watch on any illegal developments at the markets. The village even facilitated the breeding by crafting nests and hanging them on the highest branches of trees so the birds can lay and hatch their eggs. This sanctuary has been in place for about 7 years now.

Preservation of the Umngi River

As already mentioned, Umpung is a member of the “Friends of the Umngi River” group of villages dedicated to ensuring the preservation of the indigenous species of fish that are found in the area. The village has contributed to the initiative by prohibiting all fishing-related activities in certain areas. Village laws were implemented towards this end and these include the prohibition of plastic use in areas near the river, barring the plantation of local trees by the banks of the river, and imposing a ban on sand mining, among others.

Fight against Plastic Use

Umpung has been combating the use of plastic for a considerable length of time. The village has substituted plastic for biodegradable items such as areca-based crafts (plates and bowls) bamboo water bottles, banana leaf containers, etc. Large-scale plastic cleaning drives would be organized wherein the community would collect and dispose of used plastic in the region and along the banks of the Umngi River. All reusable plastic is recycled and reutilized into crafts.

Today, the community reports that Hill Mynas can be seen flying in groups of 7 to 10 at a time, an encouraging increase in number from the groups of 2 to 3 seen just a few years ago. Shri. Robertson Basan (Environmentalist) is the village’s advisor in its initiative to preserve the Umngi River. The Umpung Fish Sanctuary protects its many indigenous species of fish, and the village is a frontrunner in campaigns against plastic pollution.

Collective Marketing initiatives are being promoted across the country as a response to the growing challenge of rural farmers having little to no control in supply chains – to regain bargaining power, to cut costs of transportation and storage, and to eradicate the influence and position of middlemen while realizing fair and competitive negotiation prices for their produce at the markets. In Meghalaya, the situation for farmers is no different. The trading model involves agricultural produce either being sold by individual farmers directly to traders in local or cluster level markets or being aggregated by the village aggregator who in turn sells it to the aggregator at the cluster level. Hence, these individual farmers are not able to keep up with varying market dynamics largely because of production and marketing issues that they face as individuals, coupled with a poor understanding and knowledge of how the market works, and if the current model is to persist, thousands of farmers and their standards of living will be impacted. Further, in the agriculture sector, the State is witnessing an increased dependence on mechanical power as opposed to traditional manpower. There is a shortage of human labour and costs of cultivation are escalating.

In view of this, Megha-LAMP has intervened on behalf of its farmers to ameliorate the existing conditions by establishing Collective Marketing Centres (CMC) in villages and clusters under the project. And to keep pace with the needs of the agriculture sector, Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) are being set up across the State to contend with the challenges of the small and marginal farmers. The Chief Minister, Sh. Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the first CHC at Kyiem Village in East Khasi Hills District on 2nd October 2020, and stated that there will be 72 CHCs established across the State as part of the farm mechanization initiative of Megha-LAMP. Since the occasion, 18 CHCs have been established in the State, one in each project Block, under phase 1 of implementation. Similarly, a total of 77 CMCs have been set up across Meghalaya.

The Wapung Skur Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) Ltd.

The Wapung Skur Integrated Village Cooperative Society Ltd. (IVCS) is located in Wapung Skur, a Megha-LAMP village under Khliehriat C&RD Block, East Jaintia Hills District. The IVCS was formally registered on 30th May 2019. As of today, there are 142 shareholders – 61 men, 80 women, and 1 SHG – contributing towards a total share capital of Rs. 74,500 and a handsome savings deposit of Rs. 9, 99, 512. Recently, the IVCS has initiated the sanction of loans (personal loans) to its members and this undertaking has gone a long way in addressing the needs of the farming community and more specifically, the prevailing challenges that are associated with market linkage and access to finance. Significantly, because the IVCS is a “Grade A” cooperative society under the grading system of Megha-LAMP, as proven by the healthy number of shareholders in the IVCS, its share capital, and the amount of deposits mobilised and loans disbursed, Wapung Skur is now home to a CMC and a CHC of its own, functioning entirely independent from one another and supervised by two separate committees, but operating under the overall ownership and management of the progressive Wapung Skur IVCS Ltd.

Collective Marketing in Wapung Skur Village

A CMC is a primary farmgate infrastructure that is a node for aggregation, processing, and marketing of produce in the villages and clusters under the project, a genuine one-stop-shop at the village level. It is also an input supply unit. The basic infrastructure comprises of a collection space, a drying area, a retail area, and an office space. The thinking behind setting up CMCs under Megha-LAMP stemmed from a recognition that our farmers needed protection from the continuing exploitation of their interests, and hence, these Centres were established with the aim to create awareness on collective marketing and its merits, to initiate a system of aggregation and value addition at the market level, to ensure transparent and good governance for marketing of produce by a collective, and to enhance the skills of the stakeholder in areas of marketing and financial linkages. It may be noted that these CMCs have been set up only in project villages that have strong performing IVCS, such as the IVCS in Wapung Skur, and villages that have demonstrated high potential for increasing the incomes of farmers and farmer organizations.

Presently, the ongoing activity of the CMC in Wapung Skur is the supply of seeds and input to its farmer community members. The CMC Committee was sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs as a Working Capital Loan under the project and recently, as part of the Chief Minister’s Mobilization Support for Producers initiative, the CMC was provided with a funding support of Rs.7 lakhs for pre-fabricated storage and related infrastructure. It has a separate account in the Wapung Skur IVCS Ltd. and all funds related to CMC functioning and maintenance are deposited in this account.

The CMC has fulfilled the demands of the community and other villages under Wapung Skur Cluster. Our fellow farmers no longer need to go to Ladrymbai or Khliehriat just for buying feed and seeds, thus saving precious time and money. Now, these products are available in the village at fair prices. We also have taken the extra step of delivering goods to our customers’ doors, and this has made things easier for them. The establishment of the CMC has benefitted individual and groups alike, and we are looking forward to increasing production of our Producer Groups, IVCS members and our neighbouring villages.

-Sunshine Ryngkhlem,

Secretary, Wapung Skur CMC

The Committee looks after the management and operation of the CMC. The administration comprises a Chairman, a Secretary, and two other members. The Secretary, Bah Sunshine Ryngkhlem, is the person entrusted with managing the CMC. He oversees the buying of materials and goods (vegetable and ginger seeds, pig and poultry feed, and fertilizers) from wholesale shops in Ladrymbai, East Jaintia Hills District, and is responsible for ensuring the availability of such materials at the Centre.

The members of the IVCS, Producer Groups, and other farmers are its consumers. They generate produce and supply it to the CMC who in turn supplies to the traders. Even pigs and piglets are sent to the CMC. Bah Sunshine informed that the demand is always high. The CMC recently sold 1 ton of ginger seeds. The seeds were bought from Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, and were sold at the CMC to the Ginger PGs. The CMC has also sold sacks of pig feed, poultry feed, and vegetable seeds. In the case of feed, they are selling at a Rs. 5/kg increased rate from the original price.

Presently, Wapung Skur CMC caters to 15 villages under the Wapung Skur cluster. The plan going forward is to continue with all market-related activities together as a collective. This will then help to develop improved linkages and credit facilities for the community’s farmers, and more importantly, better their share of the profits.

List of Agri Tools/Machineries for 1st Phase CHCs under Megha-LAMP

1. Power Tiller (Medium to Heavy)

2. Rotary Tiller (Electric Start)

3. Brush Cutter

4. Hand Grass Slasher

5. Post Hole Digger (Large)

6. Wheel Hoe with one sweep blade

7. Wheel Hoe with three sweep blade

8. Multipurpose ‘U’ Blade Weeder

9. Multipurpose ‘V’ Blade Weeder

10. Zero Tillage furrow opener (manual)

11. Adjustable Row Markers

12. Knapsack Sprayer (Plastic)

13. Foot sprayer

14. Fruit Harvester (Crown Type with Bamboo Handle)

Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) in Wapung Skur Village

On 16th October 2020, the team from the East Jaintia Hills District Project Management Unit (DPMU) together with the Wapung Skur CHC Committee members went to MBMA Office in Shillong to transport the farm machinery procured by the State Project Management Unit to the village. The machines were procured for an amount of Rs. 3lakhs. Following their return, the Mechanical Engineer from the Agriculture Department in Jowai conducted a three-day training for the committee members on how to operate and run the machines.

Wapung Skur was chosen as a feasible location for setting up a CHC due to the aforementioned strong position of its IVCS. The CHC is owned and managed by the IVCS in a social enterprise mode and provides fee-based custom hiring of Agri tools and farm machinery at reasonable and fair charges. Members of the IVCS, Producer Groups as well as other farmers who reside in Wapung Skur and the villages under its cluster are its frequent visitors.

The CHC Committee is entrusted with managing day-to-day operations. There is a Manager, a Chairman and 4 other members. The Committee has the final say on the charges for using a machine. The manager makes his estimates based on the machine requested for rental, the length of the particular field, the conditions of the field, and the type of land.

Since opening its doors, the machines have been hired by many farmers of the community, a reported 30 plus number of times according to the manager of the CHC Committee. The power tiller, in particular, has been in high demand. In the case of a paddy field, the charge for using the power tiller is Rs. 1000 per 450ft for IVCS members and Rs. 1200 per 450ft for non-members. For a normal dry field, the charge is Rs. 600 per 112ft for IVCS members and Rs. 700 per 112ft for non-members.

The establishment of the Wapung Skur CHC has benefitted over 30 farmers from the cluster, all of whom have reported higher production in shorter time frames. The Committee has laid down plans to expand the services of the CHC and to procure more machines which, as an encouraging by-product, will create more job opportunities for the people of Wapung Skur.

Rural Finance

The component ‘Rural Finance’ aims to ensure for the farmer, improved access to financial services and a secured linkage to supply chains. Megha-LAMP has registered 300 community-promoted IVCS across the State, strategically setting them up in areas where the formal banking sector currently has no reach. With their establishment, rural citizens now have access to basic financial services such as savings and loans, and can also gain access to loans and other facilities being offered by formal banks. The unique setup of the IVCS also allows for the provision of other services which may include the supply of input and essential items sourced from outside the village, aggregation of Agri and allied products, sale of groceries, and storage, among others.

As of May 2021, the IVCS intervention is affording exclusive services to over 66,650 households across Meghalaya.

The Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP) implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) lays special emphasis on the inclusion of women in the decision-making process of a village by making it mandatory for a woman to be the Secretary of the Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC), a committee that oversees the implementation of the project at the village level. In rural India, where women participation at a village meeting (durbar) is still mostly anomalous, CLLMP has been a step in the right direction towards greater equity concerning the provision of a platform for women to voice their opinions and for empowering them to take important decisions for the welfare of a community.

Meghalaya, which prides itself for its matrilineal tradition, is also sorely wanting in this regard.

Jani Mawïong Village under Mawphlang C&RD Block, East Khasi Hills, located just about 30 kilometers from state capital Shillong has, however, made great strides towards meeting this challenge. Not only is the Secretary a woman but the President, as well as the Treasurer of the VNRMC, are also women. In fact, this has been the first instance in all villages of the project where all three roles are represented by women. It was indeed a landmark occasion for CLLMP when the VNRMC of the village was formed in July 2020, and has three women members presiding over key positions.

A conversation with Kong Buldahun Langstieh, President of the Committee, revealed that women not being permitted to attend the dorbar meetings (held once a year) remains an obstacle in their village, but with the arrival of CLLMP, an appreciation for their contribution by the male residents is slowly growing as they have come to realize that women bring forth issues which are different but none the less pertinent as those brought forward by men. She duly credited the headman for the opportunity to be part of the Committee and is hopeful that in the near future, further progress would be observed in Jani Mawïong as well as in other villages with regard to the involvement of women in the decision-making process.

Kong Fulsida Sunn, the Secretary of the VNRMC, expressed that this is the first time responsibility of this magnitude has been shouldered on her but added that she is excited at the prospect of the challenge. She informed that she had even presented a few innovative ideas on afforestation measures in their village by suggesting the use of hay to protect the saplings from the frost during winters. She also mentioned that there is mutual understanding and camaraderie amongst all the three women members as they are also close friends outside of work.

“A Secretary is the backbone of any committee and hence, I feel there is an added responsibility to my work besides managing my day-to-day affairs as a school teacher and a mother.”

The Treasurer, Kong Lucky Daughter Langstieh, expressed her enthusiasm and fervour in taking up the mantle.

“Our VEC treasurer has always been a male and therefore, it was a historic occasion for me as well as for all the women in Jani Mawïong Village when we were elected as representatives”

As it stands, the road largely remains long and arduous towards the representation of women in the many-sided aspects of rural development especially in the socio-political sphere of the Khasi culture, but villages like Jani Mawïong are setting momentous examples by legitimizing the value of putting women in leadership roles and addressing the burning issue of gender inequalities.

By Shweta Raj Kanwar

Priscilla Lyngdoh, a resident of Langsymphut village in East Khasi Hills, is happy that her village is one of the few in the matrilineal state that has created an enabling environment for women to exercise decision-making and authoritative rights through the constitution of Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC) as part of the Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP), which is being implemented here with the help of Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA).

With natural resource management being the key focus area, CLLMP aims to put emphasis on women empowerment through VNRMCs by putting them in key power positions in the project. Although the head of the council is the headman of the village, the other top positions always include women members.

Though Meghalaya is one of the few existing matrilineal societies in the world, the exercise of authority and power by women here is still a widely debated topic.

The village heads are males and women do not have a say in issues related to local governance system. But times seem to be changing for the better!

How it all began

About 22 km from Mawsynram village, one of the wettest places on Earth, is the Langsymphut village, located under Mawsynram C&RD block. With an approximate population of about 558 people, the village members realised that despite ample amount of annual rainfall, their streams were dying and most of the land was barren.

Their environment was rapidly degrading and the members of the village governing body decided that speedy intervention in this regard was the need of the hour. This was when the community initiated a proposal through MGNREGS to rejuvenate the almost dying river as well as to protect environment through other NRM interventions.

Around the same time, a World Bank-funded CLLMP also identified the village as one requiring intervention, as the village was included in the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) list of highly degraded villages. In June 2019, a sensitisation exercise was held in Langsymphut village, and thus began the journey of the village towards protecting their natural resource.

Under a convergence effort between CLLMP and MGNREGA, work began for construction of an RCC check dam at Phodtongksiar, adjacent to the Lumsymper peak, an area with a huge potential for promoting natural tourism. The dam was completed between August 20, 2019 and October 4, 2019.

Following this, a mega project at Langsymput village was also initiated in 2019 and is at the final stage of completion. This is an RCC check dam taken up in convergence by MGNREGA and CLLMP at Thwei Oling under Langsymphut VEC. It remains the biggest check dam undertaken by CLLMP and its impact on the lives of the people here has been tremendous.

Rejuvenated resources

Roningstar Kharbani, secretary of Langsymphut Village Employment Council (VEC), reveals that the village has now been able to plant tree saplings and dig trenches which will trap the moisture in the community land. The land which was barren and arid a few years ago, is now moist and supports the growth of saplings as well as grasses.

The land is now fit for grazing cattle as well.

He also stated that prior to building the check dams, there were no fishes in the dying stream. But now, interestingly, due to increasing water level in the stream owing to the check dams, fishes have also begun to thrive here.

It is interesting to note that these initiatives were taken by the village community members even before any government intervention. Their sole objective being to preserve their natural resources which had borne the brunt of materialistic endeavours.

Moreover, both these check dams are located near the famous Lum Symper/Symper Peak, which implies that this place holds a huge potential for tourism in the years to come.
Hence, the community members feel that it becomes all the more important to preserve their natural surroundings as it will greatly help them to promote sustainable and natural tourism.

The Declaration

In spite of being deemed as the wettest place on earth, villages in and around Mawsynram ironically suffer from water shortages, especially in the winter months. A conversation with some of the VEC members of Langsymphut and Mawteibah rings a similar tone in that there was absence of a proper mechanism to tap the tremendous potential of rain water within most of the villages under Mawsynram.

BDO of Mawsynram C&RD Block Peaceful Mukhim reveals, “The office of the Block Development Officer is continuously taking steps to make people aware about the concept of Natural Resource Management in order to optimise the use of available natural resources. At grass root level, the village representatives were inducted through trainings and campaigns under Jal Shakti Abhiyan. There has been an effective participation and involvement from the VECs in taking up Natural Resource Management Projects implemented through MGNREGA.”

The year 2019 was also the beginning of a realisation for many villages about the need for identifying a catchment area for leveraging efforts to harness water. In August 2019, as part of field visit under Jal Shakti Abhiyaan (JSA) by Sampath Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, C&RD Department, a surprising fact was revealed.

It was found that to harness water, a village had purchased land from a private land owner as the land fell under the catchment area. Realising the importance of putting the catchment area into good use, the village members, after negotiations with the land owner, purchased the land. This act set precedence for what later conceptualised as the Mawsynram Declaration.
A block level meeting was organised with the VECs in presence of Shri. D. Hynniewta (Project Director, East Khasi Hills), BDO and APOs under MGNREGA to seek & follow up the participation & involvement of the VECs relating to the issue. The Project Director called the VECs to acquire more catchment areas that belong to individuals and encourage as a better solution to a long term conservation and environmental sustainability. Some of the villages/ VECs who have obtained those catchment areas have taken up cost effective activities under MGNREGA by constructing check dams/ water harvesting structure. The Office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) have taken steps in promoting awareness on water campaign at grassroots level making the community to understand the importance of water conservation by conducting participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and focus group discussion within the VEC and similarly encouraging women participation through Self Help Groups.

Several villages came together and mobilized their efforts to materialise the Mawsynram Declaration. VECs signed memorandums with their respective village institutions (dorbar) to allocate community land for this purpose whilst almost 12 villages with no community lands even purchased a plot of land from private land holders, all this with the sole purpose of harnessing rainwater.

Impact

Till date, 24 VECs has acquired the catchment areas and also had taken up initiatives in conserving and safeguarding those water catchment areas. Through on-going awareness campaigns it is expected that this number will ultimately rise up. Langsymphut, as mentioned above, has taken great strides and the VEC members have spoken at length about how the construction of the check dam in their village has greatly benefitted the community.
Another village that greatly benefitted from the Mawsynram Declaration is Mawteibah. The former headman of the village was the owner of the land and gave away a portion of the plot to the village dorbar for public use. In conjunction with a water harvesting structure, the village has also started afforestation and land development approach such as recharge pits and trenches in the vicinity of the site. Mawhiang village is another that paints a picturesque sight. The check dam constructed here has greatly aided the entire population in terms of water supply.

The way forward

By bringing several villages together, the Mawsynram Declaration has created an environment of cohesion that was missing amongst all the villages of Mawsynram in particular, and the state in general. Further, an enabling environment is being built for bolstering women empowerment. Projects like CLLMP make it mandatory to constitute a VNRMC executive committee, whose members are elected through a democratic voting process. Seven to nine members from the community are selected to be on the council, out of which there needs to be minimum 50% women participation. In addition to the above, in what may be termed as a historic decision by the State, the Meghalaya Cabinet on August 7, 2020, approved the policy on Reservation of seats for Women in Village Employment Councils (VECs). This is the first time that 50 pc seats are being reserved for women in the local bodies in any state of India. It is realised that the role of women in VECs is by and large for the community, and will go a long way in setting a perfect example of inclusivity and equality.

(The author is media & communications officer, Meghalaya Basin Management Agency)