Grassroots wisdom takes centre stage at TISS workshop on land, sustainability, and community action

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 30, 2025

A capacity-building workshop titled “Learning from the Land: Participatory Knowledge Harvest from Assam and Meghalaya” was held on June 27 at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus. The event brought together over 50 grassroots organizations to share and strengthen community-based approaches to sustainable land use and agroecological practices.

The event, organized by TISS Guwahati in collaboration with the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), aimed to deepen skills, share knowledge, and amplify local innovations in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. Participants included NGOs from across Assam and Meghalaya working at the frontlines of environmental and rural development.

In his opening remarks, TISS Guwahati Campus Director Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia emphasized the role of academic institutions in shaping evidence-based action and supporting local practitioners whose grassroots models deserve national and international attention.

Delivering the keynote, renowned wildlife biologist and eco-feminist Dr. Purnima Devi Barman shared lessons from her Hargila Army, a women-led conservation movement protecting the endangered greater adjutant stork. She highlighted how ecological knowledge, when embedded in community leadership—especially women—can drive both biodiversity conservation and social change.

Dr. Naba Kumar Goswami, Senior Fellow at TERI, noted that since its inception, the SGP has supported over 340 civil society organizations (CSOs) across India through 443 projects, creating space for diverse communities to participate in ecological restoration.

Amba Jamir, policy analyst and strategist, stressed that sustainable policies are most effective when built from the ground up.

Prof. Sudip Mitra, founding head of SART at IIT-Guwahati, showcased how interdisciplinary learning is bridging lab-based science with land-based needs.

Dr. Rahul Mahanta, Cotton University, redefined disaster as a memory of environmental change—an idea that challenges traditional risk frameworks.

Tithal Parmar, WASH Specialist at UNICEF India, addressed Guwahati’s sanitation crisis, urging decentralized solutions and shared responsibility until citywide infrastructure is in place.

The prompt talks were curated and moderated by TISS faculty, including Dr. Abhinandan Saikia and Dr. Pradeep Ramavath J, who facilitated meaningful exchanges between experts and practitioners.

In breakout sessions, participating NGOs presented practical and culturally rooted models—from reviving seed banks and sacred groves to promoting climate-resilient agriculture and inclusive afforestation. Many underscored the vital roles of women, elders, and youth in ecosystem stewardship.

Yet, common challenges emerged: lack of recognition, inadequate funding, and weak coordination mechanisms. Participants called for stronger policy support and collaborative partnerships to scale proven solutions.

The workshop concluded with a synthesis session led by Dr. John Borgoyary, Regional Head of UNDP North East India. He reminded the audience: “We don’t inherit the present from the past—we borrow it from the future. We must nourish it.”

Dr. Abhinandan Saikia closed the event by thanking all participants, reaffirming that the stories, practices, and innovations shared will shape future strategies in environmental governance.

The event was part of a broader initiative under UNDP-GEF-SGP-TERI to empower communities and protect natural resources through participatory knowledge systems, reinforcing the idea that sustainable development begins at the grassroots.