Grassroots Empowerment NGO formed and launched a Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) at Shishimi Village in Kiphire district with the support of Shishimi Village Students’ Union on the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June 2023.
Founder and director, Grassroots Empowerment, Sumiho Aye emphasized, “We are committed to forming SDC in villages and form a collective of resilient communities as key drivers to localize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level and enable partnerships to achieve the same”.
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The SDC, a first of its kind in Nagaland, was conceptualized by the NGO with the vision to foster community ownership of sustainable development in villages. Aye expressed her thanks and credit to Shishimi Village Students’ Union for initiating the program on World Environment Day with the vision of “celebration with purpose”.
Founder and director, Grassroots Empowerment, Sumiho Aye
The founder-director of Grassroots Empowerment told Nagaland Tribune that she was overwhelmed with the response of Shishimi villagers in understanding the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting the same. “All they needed was awareness and facilitation to take a proactive approach of creating a committee for the same,” she said.
Aye mentioned that the villagers had already been practicing sustainable ways of using forest resources. For instance, the head GB, Shitoi Sangtam shared that cane craft has been a primary source of income in the village for decades, and they have sustained it by method harvesting of cane to regenerate cane in 3-4 years, she informed, adding that the villagers had also banned hunting of various species like tragopan, monkey and other animals in its jurisdiction.
Aye further said that she was enlightened by the villagers’ indigenous knowledge of plants and their medicinal properties.
“There is so much to achieve with the SDC, working to protect the biodiversity, promote sustainable livelihood solutions using forests resources responsibly, including women in the decision-making process and many more. More power to the villagers for taking ownership of the SDC initiative!” Sumiho Aye expressed with much enthusiasm.
Shishimi Village youths making waste bins from used cans
Shitoi Sangtam, the head Gaon Bura (GB) affirmed that the newly formed Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) will usher in a better tomorrow for all of his villagers.
He said, “The very fact that we have all agreed to form the SDC with a common goal today is the first step towards our long-term objectives. In brief unity for common goals and vision will help us achieve new heights together. Change does not come immediately. We have to work slowly and steadily for it.”
Kahoi Sangtam, chairman, Shishimi Village Council too iterated the optimism and stated that the SDC initiative has instilled in the village a better hope for the future generations and a clearer direction towards it. “This SDC will be a platform where we can discuss sustainable development aspects of our village. We can achieve great things when we come together,” he added.
Shishimi villagers take a tea break from plantation activities on 5 June 2023
The SDC, Shishimi Village consists of a chairman, secretary and members from the students’ union, Village Council, women representation and church leaders.
On Monday, the student union mobilized the villagers and planted more than 100 tree seedlings provided by Forest department, Kiphire in and around the village area and built proper fences around them. They created DIY dustbins with recycled steel containers and installed them for proper waste management.
Shishimi village is in Kiphire district of Nagaland which is remotely located in Eastern Nagaland bordering Myanmar and has been identified by NITI AYOG as an Aspirational district among 112 most under-developed districts in India.
