September 23, 2023
By Asish Mangalasseri
Additional Programme Coordinator, Biodiversity
Over the last five days, six conservationists including myself travelled to Green Hub in Tezpur, Assam to mentor applicants of the Royal Enfield Small Grants Programme. The grant seeks to support youth from Indigenous communities for a year, who are engaged in or aim to engage in community-based conservation projects in the northeast. The grant amount will depend on the needs of the project, and is being supported by the CSR initiative of Royal Enfield.
The applicants, which included Green Hub alumni and young conservationists from across northeast India, are so inspiring. Many of them presented compelling projects, and were dedicated to conservation efforts within their own villages and forests. Witnessing Indigenous youth passionately working to further conservation in their communities was heartening. It was evident that many villages demonstrated a strong sense of community ownership and commitment towards the projects, which highlighted the importance of local engagement and empowerment in conservation. Furthermore, this experience reinforced the pivotal role played by locally based organisations like Green Hub in uplifting young grassroots conservationists.
The role of the mentors was to assist applicants in refining their final project pitches. We provided guidance in preparing their final presentations and budgets, and discussed ways to present ideas effectively.
Among the many intriguing projects, the following secured the grant:
🔶 Agur Litin
Project: ‘Conservation of Biodiversity in Litin Community Conservation Area’
Location: Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh
🔶 Kabithui Rongmei
Project: ‘The Khaangchu Project’
Location: Manipur
🔶 Mohesh Ronghang
Project: ‘Asim-Asap Birti: An Education-based Initiative to Preserve Karbi Culture’
Location: West Karbi Anglong, Assam
🔶 Kewekhrozo Peter Thopi
Project: ‘Youth-led Biodiversity Conservation for Sustainability and Community Resilience’
Location: Chizami Village, Phek, Nagaland
🔶 Trailokya Koch
Project: ‘Save Karpu’
Location: Karbi Anglong, Assam
🔶 Tremie M Sangma
Project: ‘Integrating Ethnic and Ecological Knowledge for the Community Conservation of Rare Plants of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, India’
Location: Garo Hills, Meghalaya
🔶 Shamim Rahman
Project: Beyond the Platter: Framing Fish in the Socio-cultural Fabric of Assam
Location: Assam
🔶 Schulu Duo
Project: Stories, Songs, and Shawls: A Glimpse into the Lives of the Nagas of Senapati
Location: Senapati, Manipur
