Under the GEF-UNDP Small Grants Programme (
@sgp_op7_india),
@aaranyak is leading a project titled "Community-Based Integrated Approach to Facilitate Human-Elephant Coexistence and Biodiversity Conservation in Udalguri, Assam."
As part of this initiative, a stakeholder consultation was held on March 28, 2025, at Jaikhlong Community Nursery, Dimakuchi, bringing together local leaders, project beneficiaries, self-help group (SHG) members, agriculture officials, and village council heads. Senior representatives from TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute, including
@DrVibhaDhawan, Director General, and Dr
@SahariaDipankar, Senior Director, participated alongside Mr Manish Kumar Pandey, National Coordinator (SGP-OP7), and Dr Partha Jyoti Das from Aaranyak.
Dr Dhawan stressed the importance of
#communityparticipation and long-term
#sustainability, seeking inputs to enhance project interventions. Dr Saharia highlighted the challenges of the region and the role of
#collaborativeefforts in addressing them effectively.
During the visit, officials engaged with the community, toured the nursery, and inaugurated a Children’s Library to support the children of women working there.
Later, the TERI team, led by Dr Dhawan, joined a Multi-Stakeholder Platform meeting with Udalguri District Commissioner, Mr Pulak Patgiri, ACS, and ADC, Mr Sarfraz Haque, ACS, along with other officials. Dr Dhawan reiterated TERI’s long-standing commitment to
#sustainabledevelopment in North East India and the importance of translating research into
#grassrootsimpact.
Dr Saharia emphasized the need for aligning projects with district-level goals, recognizing the critical contributions of SGP partners
@aaranyak,
@KalongKapili1, and the ant.
District Commissioner Mr Pulak Patgiri assured support for integrating SGP projects with existing government schemes, ensuring effective implementation and long-term success.
By working together, we are taking significant steps toward a
#sustainable,
#biodiversity-rich, and
#resilientfuture for Udalguri! ✨
#Sustainability #HumanWildlifeCoexistence #CommunityLedConservation