Like many farmers across the East Jaintia Hills district, Kyrsiew Ryngkhlem from Wapung Skur
Village struggled to sustain livelihood activities and support her family on account of farmlands
becoming infertile because of coal mining. Across the region, previously green vegetative landscapes
have become barren and dry, and although the coal mining sector is a major contributor of revenue to
the State and has accounted for the creation of many livelihoods, negative impacts on the environment

But after seeing how well it worked, she wanted to expand activities and explore the potential of her
homemade organic manure. She bought a plot of uncultivable land measuring approximately 700 sq.
meters in 2015. Kyrsiew was convinced that the experiment would in due course result in soil health
restoration and water retention. She started by tilling the ground and using limestone to neutralize the
acidity of the contaminated soil, and waited patiently.

Nongmadan Shadsngi, one of the CLLMP villages, had a desire to conserve the forest cover of the forests that are  present in this village since the forests play a significant part in enhancing the village’s water  supply for everyday use. However, the uncontrolled deforestation within the village, which causes shortages in water supply and soil erosion, has had a significant impact on the ecosystem and the people’s ability to access clean drinking water.

The village also formed the Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC), which consists of 9 members, including 5 men and 4 women. Women from this village participate in the meetings, where they share their thoughts and opinions about the CLLMP initiative. Additionally, they engage in interventions like the check dam, community nurseries, and tree planting. They participate in environmental education initiatives and teach the village’s young people how to protect the environment.

The majority of the population works in farming, and the other inhabitants are engaged as daily wage workers, in businesses, or in the government sector. The elders of the community claimed that a plague that ravaged the village of Shadsngi between 1922 and 1923 drove the inhabitants to flee to Nongmadan, a neighboring village. But as the population grew, people gradually began to return to their original settlement area, eventually uniting the two to become Nongmadan Shadsngi.The village has further developed and grown after the introduction and implementation of  government schemes.

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.

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.

A Workshop to review the policy, legal and institutional framework pertaining to Natural Resource Management in Meghalaya, as part of the state’s effort to scale up CLLMP principles, was organized by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) under the aegis of the Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihood (CoE) on the 7th of October, 2021 at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.

The Two Technical Sessions focused on gaps under the current policies and the legal frameworks. Conflicts between State and ADC legislatures were identified, and ways forward for strengthening the institutional capacity of the ADCs were agreed upon.

On 19th February 2021, the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) and the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) organized the PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) Entrepreneurship Awards 2021 at the State Convention Centre, Shillong to celebrate entrepreneurship and to spotlight the State’s most inspiring entrepreneurs for their stand-out achievements and role in enterprise development in Meghalaya. Shri. Conrad K. Sangma, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

He stated that the Government has been facilitating support to up-and-coming entrepreneurs and referenced the Chief Minister’s e-Championship Challenge, a novel way of identifying entrepreneurs through an open challenge. The 2020 edition witnessed over 700 applications of which the top 100 entrepreneurs were chosen for support. Further, he presented the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneur of the Month programme which was initiated in November 2018, wherein an entrepreneur is selected monthly for support, mentoring and skills up-gradation, etc.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Kumar informed that under the Kick Start Grant and Scale-up Grant support mechanisms, the target of identifying entrepreneurs is ambitious but achievable- 15,000 people and 1000 people respectively. The process of identification will be determined on a merit basis.

Ateliers Meghalaya

Shri. Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya

HE CM’S 5Ps OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Venue: Tree House, Tura
Date: 3Rd & 4th March 2021

INTRODUCTION:

SPEECH BY DR. VIJAY KUMAR D, IAS, CEO MBMA, PROJECT DIRECTOR

Megha-LAMP While addressing the Megha-LAMP members, Dr. Kumar expressed the essence of the Project which is Livelihood and Access to Markets stating the importance of access to market linkages for people in rural areas. Dr. Kumar recommended the team not to confuse the villagers with jargons such as ISC&ED or RF, but to go to the field as members of Megha-LAM Project.

Regarding Service Providers, Dr. Kumar explained the concept is about extending services to farmers at village level. Therefore chosen people from the village would be given training (paravets) who can provide various forms of services for their own village. These SPs would receive a minimal fund through which they can utilize to purchase tools and equipment which would enable them to provide services in their villages.

On the 3rd of March, 2021, following the PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) Entrepreneurship Awards 2021 in Shillong, the Inclusive Supply Chain & Enterprise Development (ISC&ED) team of Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) organized a programme at Tura Law College, West Garo Hills to launch the Chief Minister’s Mobilization Support for Producers fund.

OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, and CEO MBMA

On 25th February 2021, the CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Technology Window established jointly by CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow and the Institute of Natural Resources (INR), Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), was formally inaugurated at Spring Valley Farm in Langkyrding, Shillong by Dr. P. Shakil Ahammed, IAS, Principal Secretary, GoM, Agriculture & Horticulture Department in the presence of Dr. Praboth Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow and Dr. G.N. Sastry, Director, CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat.

Megh-Aroma Mission was launched by Sh. Conrad K. Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, on the 27th of May, 2019 at Byrwa, Ri Bhoi District to leverage on Meghalaya being a biodiversity hotspot and to rehabilitate the vast wastelands of the State (which currently stands at over 17% of its total geographical area) through the introduction of medicinal and aromatic plants. The Mission has thus far shown very good dividends, and the quality of materials has provided evidence of being rich in value and content.

It was informed that on 18 January 2021, a meeting was held between Sh. Conrad K. Sangma and the Director of CSIR–NEIST, Jorhat to discuss opportunities which the latter can provide for the people of the State in this field. As per the Mission Document, the aim is to cover 1000 hectares in the next 3 years. 250 hectares is being proposed to be covered by the end of this financial year.

Dr. Praboth Kumar Trevedi stated that he is happy to be part of the inauguration of the CSIR Technology Window in Shillong. He informed that CSIR has 38 laboratories that work in different livelihood improvement programs for the farmers and added that the Window can help the region with the creation of new job opportunities. CSIR will be accessible for its extensive technology support so that the end goal of improving the livelihoods of farmers is realized, and their incomes are enhanced. Dr. G.N.