Biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) is supporting local communities around the fringe areas of high conservation value landscape across the state by facilitating and providing opportunities to supplement livelihood and engender conservation-sensitivite behaviour. To this end, we have been encouraging and empowering the women-folk of the communities through capacity building trainings and developing enterpreneurship skills. This International Women’s Day, Aaranyak in partnership with KarjuLangso SHG and CRMH organised a women meet at Chandrasing Rongpi village, Kohora, Karbi Anglong. A total of 120 women from six villages – Chandrasing Rongpi, Rongtara, Bakring Engti, Phumen Engti, Hemai Lekthe and Engle pathar attended the event and participated in various socio-cultural activities. An ethnic food competition was organised, where the contestants displayed their traditional breakfast items, besides participating sports, cultural events and holding exhibition on handmade crafts, jewellery and traditional attire.
The Chief guests Mrs. Gita Bhattacharya, State coordinator of BPF and Chairperson of the North East Network (NEN), and Mrs. Rebecca Kramsapi, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Pandu College, Guwahati, interacted with the womenfolk and handed over prizes to the winners of various competitions. Their inspirational speeches focused on ‘Break-the-bias’, while they interacted and discussed gender related issues in order to motivate these women to keep-up their good work, continue to break the stereotypes through their good work and bring a positive societal change. Swapan Nath, a school teacher and a journalist acknowledged and appreciated the women for coming forward and participating in zeal.
From Aaranyak Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sarlongjohn Teron, Randeep Chetia, Bhargavee Rava, Rowel Engti and Ratul Das, attended the event. Enthusiastic and active volunteers- Rangsina Phang Cho, Larlyn’s Mixture, Sabina Kropi, Elwin Teron, Lotika Kropi, Mirtaly Tokbipi and Harlong phangcho made the event lively through their work.
An important thing to know is that Aaranyak has been working in Karbi Anglong for a long time for natural resource management.