New Namati Report on Community Land Registration

Namati, in partnership with the International Development Law Organization, the Sustainable Development Institute, Centro Terro Viva, and the Land and Equity Movement in Uganda, has released ‘Protecting Community Lands and Resources: Evidence from Liberia, Mozambique and Uganda.’ The report documents the experiences of 58 communities supported by the Community Land Titling Initiative with their nations’ community land registration laws. 

Through the process, communities succeeded in addressing land disputes, improved local governance, enhanced local conservation of natural resources, and strengthened the rights of women and other marginalised groups. Based on these lessons, the report concludes that community land registration efforts should include three processes: the technical work of mapping and titling community land, the peace-building process of resolving land disputes, and the establishment or strengthening of local governance mechanisms. Moving forward, Namati will use these lessons in strengthening its Community Land Protection Program. 

The report’s executive summary can be found here, and the full report can be downloaded here. The press release for the report launch can be accessed here and the study’s homepage can be found here. Those interested in the work are encouraged to join the Global Legal Empowerment Network here.

Indiatimes|The Times of India|The Economic Times| More Facebook|Log In|Sign Up| ADVERTISEMENT Click Here! The Times of India Guwahati The Times of India Advanced Search » Home City India World Business Tech Sports Entertainment Life & Style Women Hot on the Web Spirituality NRI Euro 2012 Photos Times Now Videos LIVE TV Mumbai Delhi Bangalore Hyderabad Chennai Ahmedabad Allahabad Bhubaneswar Bhopal Chandigarh Coimbatore Goa Gurgaon Guwahati Hubli Indore Jaipur Kanpur Kolkata Kochi Kozhikode Lucknow Ludhiana Madurai Mangalore Mysore Nagpur Nashik Noida Patna Pune Rajkot Ranchi Thane Surat Thiruvananthapuram Vadodara Varanasi You are here: Home » City » Guwahati Meghalaya jubilant as Sangma files paper

SHILLONG: Meghalaya was jubilant on Thursday as 'son-of-the-soil' Purno A'gitok Sangma, a former MP and MLA from the Garo Hills, filed his nomination for the highest constitutional position in the largest democracy in the world.

"It is indeed a historic day as it is for the first time that a tribal candidate has entered the fray for presidential elections in the country," said a senior functionary of the Meghalaya unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), from which Sangma had recently resigned, as it had not backed his candidature for the presidential polls.

"This election is going to be fought on issues pertaining to the diversity in India and the tribal people of the country are keenly observing it," he said. He added that "there is nothing wrong" in Sangma appealing to the electoral college to vote for him as a representative of the minority tribals and Christians in the country.

"Though UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee's numbers seem to be heavily weighed against NDA-backed Sangma at this point, there is all-round curiosity as to the outcome of this battle as it would also bring about political realignment in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2014," said a political observer.

"The fact that BJP, a major national political organization and several other strong regional parties, including the AIADMK, BJD, Shiva Sena, Akali Dal have come out in support of Sangma, a candidate, who is primarily harping on his tribal and Christian origins, goes to show that mainland political parties and people at large in the country are truly secular and accommodating enough," pointed out Biswajit Guha, a retired teacher and a keen observer of the run-up to presidential elections.

Political observers feel that Sangma, who appears to be the "dark horse' in the race to Raisina Hills, would be a "key figure" in bringing about a "total realignment" of political forces in the country ahead of the next general elections.

Volume of trade raised in border haats

SHILLONG: Following the success of the Mughal-era "haats" opened along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, the two countries have mutually agreed to raise the volume of trade from US $ 50 to US $ 100 for each trader, officials said on Wednesday.

The addendum to the agreement was made by joint secretary, ministry of commerce Arvind Mehta and additional secretary ministry of commerce, People's Republic of Bangladesh. Garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic products, aluminum products and cookeries produced in either of the countries, for bonafide family and personal consumption, were now allowed as additional commodities, Mehta said in the agreement.

The list of items allowed for trade in the designated border haats may be expanded/modified by mutual consent (of the respective Haat Management Committees (HMC)), he said. At these haats, two now running in Meghalaya, the regulations relating to foreign exchange has also been suspended through diplomatic channels, the commerce ministry official added.

At Balat, perishable agricultural produces like commonly available jack fruit, oranges and vegetables were the most sought after commodities, Wahlang said. The same is the case with the one at West Garo Hills district, officials said.

Meghalaya to tap its huge green energy potential in a big way

D Banjop Mukhim Shillong, June 25 (PTI) Taking cue from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, power-deficit Meghalaya is going all out to tap green energy to bridge the widening demand-supply gap in the state. A preliminary investigation conducted by the Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency indicated that the state could generate about 3155 MW of electricity through non-conventional sources of energy such as bio-mass, solar and wind energy. A GIS mapping, conducted by the Chennai-based Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), an autonomous institution of the Government of India, said the state is capable of tapping between 40-90 MW of power from wind energy alone, MREDA director John Rodborne said. The government agency in collaboration with CWET is presently conducting a feasibility study in the entire state to install windmills in at least seven selected sites across the state. Three Wind Turbine Test Stations have been installed in the southern slope of Meghalaya and four more will be added by year end, he said. These stations have been installed in Ladrymbai in Jaintia Hills district, Laitdiengsai in East Khasi Hills district and Mawiawet in West Khasi Hills district respectively. The other four will be set up in Skhentalang in Jaintia Hills district, Laitkynsew and Mawkynrew in East Khasi Hills district and Phodjaut in West Khasi Hills district, the official said. The preliminary information received from the installed centres indicated that wind blowing up the cliffs in the southern slopes of the state could be essentially tapped for almost throughout the year. The reason behind the idea of having wind-power project is because it is one of the most environment friendly means to generate electricity, Rodborne said. The time taken to set up a wind power project is also shorter as compared to the time taken to set up a conventional thermal power plant.

People's Movement of Meghalaya to demonstrarte on June 30

Shillong, Jun 26 : The People's Movement, a group spearheading the fight to solve the long pending border dispute with neighbouring Assam, will stage a one-day demonstration on June 30 here.

This was announced by United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit here today after the end of the three-day sit-in demonstration held across Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts on the issue.

Incidentally, the proposed demonstration is to express solidarity with the fast-unto-death of Pynskhem Nongshlong, a youth from Rambrai village in West Khasi Hills.

Nongshlong has decided to go for an indefinite hunger strike at Langpih from June 30 to put pressure on the State government to solve the vexed boundary dispute with Assam.

The People's Movement, also today informed that the youth will fast under the umbrella of the movement.

A delegation of the People's Movement would also visit Langpih next month to join Nongshlong during his fast at Langpih.

Langpih is a village bordering Assam where frequent aggression by Assam government has been resented by Meghalaya public.

On May 15, 2010 four Khasi villagers of the Langpih were gunned down by Assam police personnel.

Meanwhile, addressing the gathering at the end of three day protest, the legislator said, "This generation will have to solve the 40 year old boundary dispute with Assam." Mr Basaiawmoit also said he cannot be a silent spectator while Assam creates fear psychosis among the border residents of Meghalaya.

There was no point in talking with the Assam Government since it has betrayed the people of Meghalaya over the years, Mr Basaiawmoit said.

"When the two siblings are quarreling, it is the mother that comes and pacifies. Similarly, when two neighbouring states are quarreling, it is the Central government that needs to intervene and solve the problem,' Mr Basaiawmoit said.

Meanwhile, the three-day sit-in protest which ended today was observed all over the four districts of the state.

Earlier on May 29, Mr Basaiawmoit along with some Members of District Council (MDCs) and concerned citizens held a ten-hour long hunger strike at the State Central Library premises here.

Melodious Gunfire

Zaira Arslan

One morning, while accompanying Lou Majaw — a guitarist and singer from Shillong — to a music store in Mumbai, Bidyut Kotoky got into conversation with the shop’s owner, who told him that a majority of his customers are from the Northeast. An Assamese writer and director himself, the bit of trivia found fancy with Kotoky and he began discussing with Majaw why this might be. Several odd statistics emerged. “Liquor stores in the Northeast stock some of the most expensive brands from around the world and guns are more easily available there than guitars,” points out Kotoky. The dichotomy fascinated the filmmaker, who then decided to make a film that would explore the impact of Northeast India’s socio-political scenario on the region’s music.

A travelogue of sorts, Guns and Guitars — still in production — follows Kotoky’s journey from state to state, talking to different musicians about the music they play. “We travel from one place to the next, trying to understand the socio-political situation and talk to one rock group in each state,” he says. The film ends with all of these different musicians coming together at the Bob Dylan tribute concert, organised by Majaw and held on May 24 — Dylan’s birthday. Shooting began in April last year, and so, the footage from last year’s and this year’s concerts will, most likely, be used. Although Majaw plays a large role in the film — it begins and ends with him — Kotoky says it isn’t predominantly about him.

“There is very little known about the Northeast and it usually finds itself in the news for negative things. So I wanted to make a film on the positive aspects of the area,” he explains.

The name, he believes, “reflects the soul of the film”. The word “gun” refers not only to an actual, physical gun, but “all the negative forces in the area, for instance, drugs and violence”. “The film is about people who picked up guitars over guns,” he says.

It also explores why musicians of this region play the music that they do, for instance, death metal in Manipur. The band he spoke to there told him they play death metal as a way of contending with their frustration. A state that’s been under seige more often than not, Kotoky says people here have to wait hours for something as simple as withdrawing money from an ATM machine.

A writer and director born in Assam, Kotoky has, in the last 10 years, made over 140 short films. His first feature film, As the River Flows, produced by National Film Development Corporation, is a true story based on events on the river island of Majuli in Assam. In 1997, social worker Sanjoy Ghosh was abducted from this island and the story follows the protagonist — a journalist — who travels to the island in search of his friend. The film has, however, not been released yet. Kotoky, however, hopes that he will be able to release Guns and Guitars by the end of this year.

Africa BCP Initiative Review in Wa, Ghana

Shea producers from Dafiama meeting with ABCPI
participants

The Natural Justice team was in Wa, Ghana for a review of the first phase of the Africa Biocultural Community Protocols Initiative (ABCPI) on 21-22 June. The meeting included a review of the lessons learned from the first year of the initiative. The review began with reflection by representatives from each of the communities who engaged in the Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) process through the initiative. The representatives were also encouraged to reflect on the usefulness of ‘BCPs: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators’ and to propose amendments or additions. 

From Ghana, the community of Dafiama is preparing a BCP on Shea conservation and marketing and the community of Tanchara further developed and used for dialogue their BCP on local gold exploration and sacred sites. From Ethiopia, the community of Sheka Forest is developing a BCP asserting their right to steward the forest. In Kenya, the Maasai community of Ilkusemeti is preparing a BCP on land use, the Samburu community is extending their BCP on livestock keeping rights, and the communities of Lamu are demanding community inclusion in a major port development planning. In South Africa, the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners of Bushbuckridge are using their BCP to consider an access and benefit sharing (ABS) agreement with a cosmetics company. In Namibia, the community residing in Bwabata National Park is contemplating using a BCP to establish their right to reside and conserve the park. 

From the review, the representatives identified key issues in BCP development. They included having clear objectives, effective and representative community governance structures, engaging facilitators with existing trust relationships with the community and the ability to translate community values and practices to external actors, the importance of proactively and productively engaging with governments, the importance of including documentation throughout the process, and the need for meaningful legal support. 

Moving forward, the ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa, a leading backer of the ABCPI, looked forward to supporting the communities represented and others in further developing and using BCPs. Natural Justice, and other participants, wish to thank the ABS Capacity Development Initative, the Open Society for Southern Africa, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Christensen Fund, and University of Cape Town's Open AIR project, for their generous support of the Initiative and its participant communities. Natural Justice also thanks the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD), ETC COMPAS, and all other ABPCI participants.

Read about the Africa BCP Initiative here. Read the report on the inception meeting of the Initiative here. 

Meghalaya to tap its huge green energy potential in a big way

Shillong: Taking cue from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, power-deficit Meghalaya is going all out to tap green energy to bridge the widening demand-supply gap in the state.

A preliminary investigation conducted by the Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency indicated that the state could generate about 3155 MW of electricity through non-conventional sources of energy such as bio-mass, solar and wind energy.

A GIS mapping, conducted by the Chennai-based Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), an autonomous institution of the Government of India, said the state is capable of tapping between 40-90 MW of power from wind energy alone, MREDA director John Rodborne said.

The government agency in collaboration with CWET is presently conducting a feasibility study in the entire state to install windmills in at least seven selected sites across the state.

Three Wind Turbine Test Stations have been installed in the southern slope of Meghalaya and four more will be added by year end, he said.

These stations have been installed in Ladrymbai in Jaintia Hills district, Laitdiengsai in East Khasi Hills district and Mawiawet in West Khasi Hills district respectively.

The other four will be set up in Skhentalang in Jaintia Hills district, Laitkynsew and Mawkynrew in East Khasi Hills district and Phodjaut in West Khasi Hills district, the official said.

The preliminary information received from the installed centres indicated that wind blowing up the cliffs in the southern slopes of the state could be essentially tapped for almost throughout the year.

The reason behind the idea of having wind-power project is because it is one of the most environment friendly means to generate electricity, Rodborne said.

The time taken to set up a wind power project is also shorter as compared to the time taken to set up a conventional thermal power plant.

Officials said the preferred wind speed for optimum power generation is around 12 m/sec (40-50 km per hour) above which the turbines have to be switched off to avoid damage.

The average height of the wind turbine is 200 meters while the blades could have span of about 80 meters.

The testing stations installed at the mountain edge, Rodborne said, would actually give a rough idea on how much amount of power will be generated if a power windmill is installed.

In a year’s time, the data collected from these testing stations will be collected, condensed as statistical data before the government can come up with a formal detailed project proposal to set up windmills wherever feasible, Rodborne said.

At present Karnataka is adding 200 MW of wind energy every year to its grid whereas Tamil Nadu is doing a much better job, generating a whopping 1,000 MW annually, official sources said.

On the other hand, till date the agency has also lighted 134 remote villages where the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Ltd found it unviable to extend their power grid. In 2012, the agency plans to light 242 villages out of which 106 have been approved so far, the official said.

On the generation of power using bio-mass, Rodborne said the agency is processing a plan to have machines installed in all districts.

Forests wastes, and other wastes will be used for the purpose of generating about 65 MW of power, he said.

The state, famously known for being the abode of clouds, is not to be left behind as latest technology has come up to catch the slightest sunlight.

"Considering 2 per cent of land that can be used to have solar cells installed, the state can easily generate about 3000 MW of electricity," Rodborne said.

In, 2008 Meghalaya requires approximately 610 MW of power and it incurred several crores to buy power from outside to cater to its consumption.

At present, Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Ltd (MeECL) generates 228.5 MW of power and receives and about an equal amount of power from the Central shares.

Son upbeat about PA Sangma’s prospects

SHILLONG, June 25 – Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, who is contesting the forthcoming Presidential election, is getting increasing support as the ‘D’ day nears, Leader of Opposition in Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, said on Saturday. Conrad K Sangma is one of the sons of PA Sangma.

Conrad, an influential leader of the NCP, told reporters at an official meeting of the NCP, where MLAs and leaders were present, that PA Sangma’s vote is increasing and now it is at 30-32 per cent of the total votes.

“We see an improvement. It is a proud moment for all of us from Meghalaya,” Conrad said.

Of the total vote count in the forthcoming Presidential elections, he said, “Five per cent belongs to Scheduled Tribes, 15 per cent to SCs and 40 per cent to the OBCs.”

The NCP leader also claimed that even at this hour, dissident groups within the Congress are pledging their support to PA Sangma. “A few Congress legislators will be voting for Sangma,” Conrad said, adding to quote them, “Why not support a tribal person who is our very own?”

Stating that his father is an Independent candidate in the coming election, backed by the AIADMK and the BJD and supported by the BJP, Conrad said, “You will see the situation change in the coming days.”

Expressing happiness that the former founder of the NCP had resigned, Conrad said, “Mr Sangma had taken a bold step nevertheless, though it was a great loss for the NCP.”

“The party has lost the tallest leader and a mentor of the party in the NE region even as he resigned at his individual level for the cause of all tribals in the country, all NE States and their people and all Christians,” he said.

Commenting on the reported statement made by Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma, Conrad said, “It is sad that the Chief Minister came up with a statement against PA Sangma. It shows a kind of disrespect and insensitivity towards the cause of the tribal people, the plight of the NE region and of all Christians,” adding that the statement from the Chief Minister was immature.

Mukul Sangma had reportedly questioned PA Sangma on the development front in the State and in his hometown in Garo Hills despite being at the helm of power for a very long time.

Conrad urged the people while pleading for their support, “We should all rise above politics and we should rise for the cause of the people. The statements made by the Chief Minister have hurt the sentiments of the people in Garo Hills and Meghalaya and the sentiments of the NE people.”

“This is the closest that in many years a person from Meghalaya, a tribal, stands to be elected as the President of the country. I don’t see this in many years to come, I am hoping to see a positive response, I hope the opportunity will be taken by all leaders of the NE,” Conrad added.

The NCP leader confirmed that the State unit of the NCP would maintain the status quo as of now, adding that in politics, “anything can happen.”

MSP Review in Wa, Ghana

Shea butter production

The Natural Justice team was hosted by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) for a gathering in Wa, Ghana from 18-20 June for a review of the multi-stakeholder processes (MSPs) and biocultural community protocols (BCPs) developed over the past year through the Africa BCP Initiative. The gathering began with a review of the BCPs in the process of being developed in the Africa BCP Initiative. These include BCPs in Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia and Kenya around gold mining, Shea nut conservation and production, pastoralism, land tenure, forest conservation, and traditional medicinal knowledge. Representatives from ETC Compas, GIZ and CIKOD, organisations which have supported the BCP Initiative, offered feedback on the BCP processes and results. 

The gathering then reviewed MSPs conducted in Tanchara, Ghana, around gold mining, and Lamu, Kenya, around major infrastructure developments. Participants in both MSPs presented the processes and results from their MSPs and received feedback from other members of the BCP Initiative. 

On the 20th, the group visited a traditional Shea nut producing community in Dafiama, Ghana which is in the process of developing a BCP. Shea pickers demonstrated the process by which Shea nuts are turned from nut to butter. The traditional leadership of the community shared their concern at the depletion of Shea trees and their enthusiasm for the BCP. It is hoped that the BCP will reduce the destruction of Shea trees from charcoal production and mining and increase the value that communities receive for the Shea that they have maintained and harvested.

Support for Sangma rising in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: With the largest Opposition party in the country, BJP, extending its support to presidential aspirant Purno A'gitok Sangma, there is much enthusiasm in his home state with people expecting a "respectable fight" for Sangma in the race to Raisina Hill.

"We are extremely happy that one of the most renowned political faces from the northeast is contending for the highest office in the country," said Sujoy Datta, a businessman.

"He is one of the most articulate and educated politicians in the country, who has risen from a humble background. If he becomes the President, the people of the northeast will be elated," said Jolly Marak, a college student.

Meanwhile, sources in the state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), from which Sangma resigned yesterday, have hinted that legislators of the party, all of whom are loyal to the former Lok Sabha speaker, would vote for him in the presidential polls.

Sangma's youngest son and leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly, Conrad Kongkal Sangma, is of the view that his father's resignation would have no impact on the party in Meghalaya.

Sangma, who represented the prestigious Tura Assembly Constituency, put his papers down after the NCP urged him to pull out of the race and to support Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, the UPA candidate put up by the Congress. The politician has also resigned from the state assembly. "He had to quit the NCP because the UPA (including the NCP) are not supporting his cause as a tribal candidate who represents the minority and the Christians," Conradsaid.

Agatha Sangma too may quit NCP, ministry

NCP believes Union minister Agatha Sangma would follow her father P A Sangma out of the party.
NEW DELHI: NCP believes Union minister Agatha Sangma would follow her father P A Sangma out of the party.

On Wednesday, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma resigned from NCP, which he had founded with Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar after breaking away from Congress, and is set to become the NDA candidate in the President's election.

NCP sources believe Agatha, who is minister of state for rural development, is unlikely to continue in the Union ministry. A senior leader said the young MP is her famous father's protege in Meghalaya politics, and it would make little sense in taking an independent stance from him.

A senior leader said she would have to leave the ministry once she sided with her father. "How can we react when she has not resigned yet?" a leader said.

NCP office-bearers met on Wednesday to discuss the controversy over its founding member throwing his hat in the ring despite the party being at the forefront of UPA nominating Pranab Mukherjee for the contest.

NCP is sore with the Sangma family because it was confident that the leader would come around to withdraw from the Presidential fray. Spokesman D P Tripathi accused him of going back on the word he gave to party chief Sharad Pawar.

Tripathi said, "Sharad Pawar has accepted the resignation of P A Sangma and NCP is informing the Meghalaya assembly Speaker".

When Sangma was scouting for support initially, NCP had asked Agatha to stay away from campaigning for her father since the party had decided to back the UPA in Presidential polls.

The young MP had accompanied Sangma to CM Jayalalithaa before the AIADMK supremo and her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik declared support for him.

Congress refused to be drawn into the debate if it was ethical for Agatha to be in the ministry while her father was the Presidential candidate who would cross swords with UPA. "Congress is not going to advise NCP on what to do about Agatha," AICC spokesman Rashid Alvi said.

Major New Publication on Community Protocols, Rights and FPIC

Volume 65 of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), published by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), has just been released. Entitled "Biodiversity and Culture: Exploring community protocols, rights and consent", the special issue was guest edited by Krystyna Swiderska (IIED), Kanchi Kohli (Kalpavriksh), Harry Jonas and Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice), Wim Hiemstra, (COMPAS Network for Endogenous Development), and Maria Julia Oliva (Union for Ethical Biotrade).

This special issue of PLA explores two important participatory tools that indigenous peoples and local communities can use to help defend their customary rights to biocultural heritage, natural resources, and lands:  community protocols – or charters of rules and responsibilities – in which communities set out their customary rights to natural resources and land, as recognised in customary, national and international laws; and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) processes, in which communities decide whether or not to allow projects affecting their land or resources to go ahead, and on what terms.

The issue reviews the experiences of communities in Asia, Latin America, and Africa in developing and using these tools in a range of contexts. It also looks at some government experiences of establishing institutional processes for FPIC and benefit-sharing. It identifies practical lessons and guidance based on these experiences and aims to strengthen the capacity of a range of actors to support these rights-based tools effectively in practice. It aims to provide guidance for those implementing the Nagoya Protocol (amongst other international instruments) and other natural resource and development practitioners, and to raise awareness of the importance of community-designed and -controlled participatory processes.

Natural Justice and their partners contributed to 8 of the 17 articles. Five focused on biocultural community protocol processes amongst traditional health practitioners in Bushbuckridge, South Africa; livestock keepers in South Asia; sacred grove custodians in Upper West Region, Ghana; artisanal miners in Alto San Juan, Colombia; and indigenous communities in Ulu Papar, Sabah (Malaysia). Three of the articles explored methodologies and participatory approaches for facilitating biocultural community protocol processes, including in the context of biotrade in Peru and in multi-stakeholder processes in Ghana and Kenya.

The full publication can be downloaded for free here or hard copies are available upon request.

People to launch agitation in Meghalaya over border dispute

People of East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya would launch sit-in protests at various places of the district in connection with the inter-state boundary issue on June 21, 22 and 23. The decision was announced by former Khasi Students Union (KSU) general secretary Hamlet Dohling here today. Seeking people's support to the peaceful agitation, Mr Dohling said the problems being faced by people residing along the inter-state border with Assam, especially at Langpih and Block-1 and Block-2, are incalculable. "Not only encroachment but the people there are also facing harassment from time to time. The demand to solve the dispute was made time and again but it is sad that both the Central and State governments pay no heed to such pleas," Dohling said. 'The people of the state cannot afford to remain a silent spectator and should not allow another May 14, 2010 like firing incident at Langpih in which four Khasi people were killed by the Assam police,' he said. The state, he said, could not allow losing land every day and harassment meted out by outside forces. He also appealed for solution to end the boundary dispute. Dohling urged the people to extend support to the agitation.

No specific chemical behind Meghalaya fish death

Shillong, June 18 : An official investigation into the death of thousands of fish in a river near Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya's remote West Khasi Hills district says it did not find any "specific chemical level" in the water that would poison fish even as it warned that water is "unsafe" for drinking. Seven out of eight samples collected from different locations along the Kynshi river and its feeding streams show "non-indicative of pollution in terms of physio-chemical and pesticides assessment", a probe report, conducted by Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), said. An observation on water sample collected from Wahplu stream indicated a "significant deterioration of water quality characterised by low pH level (highly acidic) and high concentration of iron and sulphate. "Scientists suspect that the mine run-off caused by coal mining activities along the catchment areas of Wahplu stream as the reason behind the pollution in the river. The water at Wahplu also appeared "yellowish red", a phenomenon caused by acid effluents draining from the coal mines in Nongkulang area, the report said. Scientists, however, ruled out the adverse impact that Wahplu stream will have on River Kulang, where it flows to, as the water discharge of the former is "less significant" as compared to the latter. Water samples collected downstream the point of confluence of Wahplu stream and river Wahblei showed that the acidity and mineral content was normal again. The report also said there was no specific chemical(s) at a level that would cause the death of fishes in all seven samples except that of Wahplu river. The MSPCB has cautioned that the water samples have bacterial counts "beyond" permissible limits and hence not suitable for drinking without pre-treatment.

Anganwadi union takes inspiration from Meghalaya

GUWAHATI: Meghalaya's Anganwadi workers' movement for rights and privileges has become an inspiration for their counterparts in Assam. The newly-formed Assam State Anganwadi Sahayika Union (Asasu), affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), has sought help and cooperation from the Meghalaya Anganwadi Workers' and Helpers' Union (MAWHU) to start a similar movement for the rights of Anganwadi workers in Assam.

MAWHU, which is also affiliated to AITUC, has been successful in organizing the Anganwadi workers and helpers in seeking the rights and privileges for them from the Meghalaya government.

"In Meghalaya, our union has been very strong and proactive in seeking the rights and privileges for Anganwadi workers and helpers. Anganwadi workers and helpers in Meghalaya are now organized because of the movement we launched in our state. We want to see our counterpart in Assam become organized so that they can seek their rights proactively," MAWHU general secretary, Diangtimai Lyngdoh said.

Lyngdoh and Meghalaya AITUC general secretary Eva Blah took part in a protest march organized by Asasu here on Saturday. Asasu, formed in January this year, wanted to organize all the Anganwadi workers and helpers in Assam under a trade union so that they can press for better job opportunities. Asasu has been seeking better pay, facilities and regularization of their jobs among other demands.

"They (MAWHU) have led a strong movement for Aganwadi workers and helpers in Meghalaya,and they have been able to get many benefits from the government because of their organized activism. We want to build a similar kind of movement and experiences of MAWHU will be of great help for us in Assam," Assam AITUC general secretary, Munin Mahanta said.

Lyngdoh said she is looking forward to a strong united movement in Assam and Meghalaya in coming days. "We have been able to achieve many of the benefits for our members because of our persistent struggle. Assam and Meghalaya should join hands for a stronger movement in near future," Lyngdoh said.

Preparatory Meeting for CBD COP11 in Burundi

From 9-14 June, the African regional preparatory meeting for indigenous peoples and local communities for the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took place in Bujumbura, Burundi. The meeting was co-hosted by the CBD Secretariat, the ABS Capacity Development Initiative, the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), and the Unissons-nous pour la Promotion des Batwa (UNIPROBA). The agenda of the meeting is available here.

The meeting contained specific capacity development sessions on Article 8(j) of the CBD, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), biocultural community protocols, and intellectual property rights. It also served as an opportunity for the 55 representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities from 21 African countries to strategize ahead of COP11, which will take place in October in Hyderabad, India. Gino Cocchiaro, Lassana Kone and Johanna von Braun (Natural Justice) supported the meeting by holding a session on biocultural community protocols as well as co-facilitating a two-day training session on intellectual property rights and ABS.

In the meeting’s closing panel, which included Burundi's Minister of Environment, Water, Public Works and Urban Planning, Lucy Mulenkei (IIN) highlighted the importance of such meetings for indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa to be prepared for intergovernmental meetings. She also appealed directly to the Minister to lobby other African governments to pay more attention to environmental matters, to ratify the Nagoya Protocol, and to support indigenous peoples and local communities.  The Minister, in turn, expressed his government’s commitment to spare no efforts to support indigenous peoples and local communities in their struggles and to promote human rights in general and in particular those of indigenous peoples, including those of Burundi’s large local Batwa community. He ended the workshop with the words: "Long live international cooperation! Long live the CBD! Long live indigenous people! And long live Burundi!"

Shillong IIM to take part at UN Earth Summit

GUWAHATI, June 15  – The Indian Institute of Management, Shillong is the only educational institution in the country to participate as an official invitee at the UN Earth Summit scheduled to begin on June 15 at Brazil’s capital Rio de Janerio.

Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty is the lone academic from India who was selected to the group that has drafted the report on Management Education, official sources said here today.

IIM Shillong has also contributed to the Indian section of the film on Voices from different parts of the world, which will be screened at the inaugural session.

The summit would also adopt the ‘50+20 report on Management Education in the World’, a collaborative project between the World Business School Council of Sustainable Business (WBSCSB), the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) and the Principles of Responsible Management Education.

IIM Shillong was the founding member of WBSCSB which grew out of a series of informal meetings held between different individuals and groups.

Director Prof AK Dutta said the institute was indeed privileged to be part of the move to transform Management Education from the tenet of being the best in the world to create business that is designed to achieve the best for the world.

“In order to create a world where all citizens live well, 50+20 urges action toward a different kind of society with a revised economic framework that is celebrated for its contribution to society and the world,” Prof Dutta said.

Apart from reviewing the state of management education in the world, “our job is to offer solutions and explore new roads that would ensure sustainability”, Prof Kakoty said prior to his departure.

"Seeds of Freedom"

A new film, "Seeds of Freedom", has been released by the Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network (ABN) along with GRAIN, Navdanya International and MELCA International. It is narrated by actor Jeremy Irons and features indigenous farmers from the ABN as well as interviews with Dr Vandana Shiva, Percy Schmeiser, Henk Hobbelink and Kumi Naidoo.

From seedsoffreedom.info, "Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. The film highlights the extent to which the industrial agricultural system, and genetically modified (GM) seeds in particular, has impacted on the enormous agro -biodiversity evolved by farmers and communities around the world, since the beginning of agriculture."

More information can be found at seedsoffreedom.info. 

Ashoka Globalizer

Harry Jonas attended the Ashoka Foundation's 6th Globalizer Summit in Geneva. The event focused on rural innovation and farming, and brought together a range of Ashoka Fellows and international advisors to focus on how the Fellows could scale their ideas to better support a range of rural communities and preserve biodiversity. The event included one-on-one sessions with successful entrepreneurs to focus on the critical questions facing Fellows as their ideas grow. Harry thanks Nihar Kothari, Philip Riddel, Biksham Gujja and Marc Castagnet for their invaluable advice, and particularly thanks the Ashoka RIF and Globalizer teams for an excellent few days.

Africa Workshop for ILCs in Preparation for CBD COP 11

The first of three regional workshops in preparation for the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is taking place from 9-14 June in Bujumbura, Burundi. This workshop has been organized jointly by the CBD Secretariat and the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Capacity Development Initiative and brings together nearly 50 representatives from indigenous and local communities (ILCs) from across the Africa. 

The workshop is split into two sections. The first section will concentrate on the CBD, in particular articles 8j and 10c, and includes a closer look at the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization. Gino Cocchiaro, Lassana Kone and Johanna von Braun from Natural Justice supported this last segment through an introduction to biocultural community protocols and their value in the context of ABS. 

The second section of the workshop includes an introductory training on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and ABS, organized on the specific request of ILC representatives to the ABS Initiative, with the aim of better understanding IPRs.

One more trip to la-la land for Mysoreans?

Shillong, Jun 12 : Notwithstanding the cold shoulder P A Sangma received from NCP chief Sharad Pawar on supporting him for the Presidential poll, Meghalaya Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma today described the former Lok Sabha Speaker as "fit" for the top most. He also claimed that many NCP MLAs would vote for him. "We should not be limited to the fact that he is a tribal candidate, what is more important is to see his contribution to the offices that he held (as Speaker and Union Minister)," Conrad, who is Sangma's son said. He said his father has a clean image all through. He said it would be a matter of pride and things would be different for the people of the region if he becomes the President. "It is sad that people do not see that aspect and happiness....It is sad to see that people are taking it with such a negative manner," he said. Conrad claimed that the party (NCP) high command would not be issuing any whip and hence the elected leaders of the party can vote for Sangma. "I am voting for P A Sangma. MLAs in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha are supporting him," Conrad claimed, adding that about 10-15 per cent NCP elected leaders are openly supporting him. The young NCP leader hoped every voter from NE, every tribal and every Christian will vote for Sangma. On the campaign undertaken by Sangma, Conrad said every candidate for the Presidential post should campaign so that the post is not reduced to a rubber stamp one. The Meghalaya Leader of Opposition, however, expressed unhappiness over Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's open statement against Sangma. "It was sad to see Gogoi react that way... I think he acted on a party line and to keep Sonia Gandhi happy," he said. Gogoi had said, "Be it Congress or non-Congress, no one has lent any support to Sangma. Even his own party is not supporting him. I have never seen anyone himself canvassing for the President's post."

Borana BCP Training

From 5-7 July, Natural Justice and Kivulini Trust facilitated a biocultural community protocol (BCP) training workshop for the Borana pastoralist community of the Waso Rangelands, Kenya. The increase in development projects, wildlife conservation areas and influx of other groups in Waso has contributed to the loss of the Borana’s traditional lands and diminished grazing areas for their livestock. This continued loss has led to a slow decline in their traditional institutions, customs and norms as members of the community are forced to choose other livelihood options. This change has also negatively impacted the biodiversity in the area, which was conserved and sustainably used by the communities through their traditional pastoralist practices. 

The BCP training in Waso was attended by a number of the community members, including elders, women, youth and NGOs supporting the community. The BCP process, or Fin Jiru Gumi Waso (Wellbeing of the Waso Community in KiBorana), will combine with a number of ongoing projects in the region which seek to protect the community’s resources and culture. The process will highlight the community’s customary laws and norms around biodiversity conservation, inform the community of their relevant international and national biocultural rights, establish representative bodies to dialogue with government or private enterprises interested in utilizing the resources and/or traditional knowledge on their traditional lands, and create a platform for discussion with neighbouring communities in the interest of peacebuilding. This initiative is supported by the Christensen Fund.

Final FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Tenure

Farmer in Uganda. Photo via fao.org

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the ‘Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security’ on 11 May.  The process of developing the guidelines was initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 2009 and was finalised by CFS lead negotiations involving governments, civil society, the private sector, international organisations and academia. CFS chairperson Yaya Olaniran described the guidelines as "the product of a three year, inclusive process of consultations and negotiations that brought together many stakeholders and ensured that a wide range of voices were heard…The result is that we have a meaningful series of principles and practices that everybody — countries, the private sector, farmers, civil society — can stand behind and support, and that will work out in the real world." 

The guidelines encourage increased recognition of informal tenure systems, ensuring tenure administrative systems are affordable and accessible, managing restitution for those illegally evicted from their lands in the past, ensuring the rights of indigenous communities, increasing transparency in agricultural investments, supporting effective and equitable dispute resolution around land tenure, and addressing increased urbanisation. Looking forward, implementation will depend upon governments which participated in the negotiations. 

The guidelines can be downloaded here and an informal aid for reading the guidelines can be found here. FAO’s press statement upon the adoption of the guidelines is here. 

Separate HC to be a reality

Shillong, Jun 11 : The long-cherished dream of Meghalaya to have a separate High Court will finally be fulfilled, following presidential assent to the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Bill on June 7.

Along with the state, Manipur and Tripura, too, will have their own high courts. President Pratibha Patil signed the bill after it was passed in the Lok Sabha on May 11 and subsequently in the Rajya Sabha.

At present, Gauhati High Court has separate benches in Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

“It is a great victory for the people as a long-cherished dream has been fulfilled,” deputy chief minister Bindo M. Lanong, who is also the law minister, told The Telegraph.

He said a separate high court would relieve the burden on litigants, as they would no longer need to travel all the way to Guwahati. “A high court here would also reduce the time taken to dispose of cases. At present, Gauhati High Court is overburdened with litigations. With three separate courts, the principal bench will be relieved to a great extent,” Lanong said.

The deputy chief minister also said while the infrastructure for the court is ready; the state would have to wait for appointment of a chief justice, judges and judicial officers.

“It might take some time but hopefully within this year itself, the full-fledged high court will start functioning. I want to thank the Union ministry of law and justice for considering this long felt aspiration of people,” he said.

Meghalaya plans to use rainwater to harvest fish

SHILLONG: With demand for fish much higher than the supply, Meghalaya is planning to use rainwater to breed popular edible species on a larger scale. Rainwater will be channelled into small ponds thereby creating in inland fisheries.

"It's an irony that a state with such high precipitation should have an annual fish deficit of more than 15,000 metric ton," said chief minister Mukul Sangma, who recently announced that the state will launch the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission, to be implemented co-terminus with the 12th Five Year Plan, to make the state not just self-sufficient, but even acquire capability to export fish. "It is my belief that the mission will not just address the deficit of freshwater fish, but it will also resolve several unemployment issues plaguing the rural areas of the state," he said.

The demand for fish in the predominantly fish-consuming state far outweighs the supply making it dependent on supplies from Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Assam. "Meghalaya, with its vast inland fish resources in form of rivers, reservoirs, lakes and ponds and an average rainfall of 1,200mm, offers tremendous scope for developing the fisheries sector, but lags behind in harnessing the potential of these natural resources," an official in the state fisheries department said. "The state government has identified fisheries as a key sector and decided to assist the people to develop fish ponds," he said.

Interestingly, in Meghalaya, which recorded the highest population growth rate among all Indian States (2.5% per annum) during 2001-11, per capita availability of fish had also declined. According to official data, the share of fisheries in total agricultural GSDP was only 1.15% as against 5.2% at the national level in 2010-11. "Given the wide gap between demand and supply, the development of the sector is a priority for the state government," an official said. He added that there is an urgent need to expand the present 2,500 hectares of land under fish ponds in the state through judicious use of rainwater.

The rat-hole miners of Shillong

Geetanjali Krishna

While in Shillong, we decided to get adventurous and explore some limestone caves for which Meghalaya is known. The Cherrapunjee caves really did bring Aladdin to mind — they glittered like treasure troves and were ridden with hidden pitfalls such as quicksand (our guide fell into some). But that’s not what this column is about. This column is about what we saw hiking up and down a mountain to get to the mouth of the caves. It was a steep climb uphill, and every now and again, we lost our foothold as we stepped on loose shale and dirty black stones. “What are they?” I asked. It turned out that I’d been skidding on coal. “Meghalaya has rich deposits of surface coal,” explained our Khasi guide Gregory, “we’ll probably see migrant labourers on these hills, collecting it to sell to larger traders.” Was coal mining not regulated by the government, I asked. “Not in the Khasi hills,” he said, “the land and all that lies beneath is owned by tribals, not the government.” I learnt that small-scale unlicensed coal mining is allowed as a customary right of the people.

Sure enough, as we blundered over the slippery hillside, we soon came across a miner family. The woman was cooking rice over a small fire and keeping an eye on a young child, who was scrabbling around under the rocks looking for coal. Near them was a clump of rocks sheltering a small hole. “This is one of the many holes on this hill that miners use,” said the guide. It looked large enough for a rabbit, but I just couldn’t imagine how a man could fit in. Slippers outside the hole told us that someone was definitely within. I tried peeping in, but the woman yelled at us in some sort of Bihari patois to go away. “Small-scale mining is in a bit of a grey zone,” said Gregory, “we should leave.”

As we walked away, I realised how isolated the family was. The only sign of life on the rocky mountainside was a large cement factory at its base. As we crossed another bend, the family came into view again. The miner had now emerged from his hole, covered in dirt. All he had by the way of burrowing tools was a pickaxe. “Actually, most of them prefer to use their hands rather than tools, for the crawl hole is so narrow that it has little room for any extra movement,” he said, “that is why the name, rat-hole mining.”

Returning from our limestone cave, we met the miner family again. They were eating a sparse midday meal. Next to them were two baskets of coal. “Is that all you’ve managed to collect?” I asked the woman. She grimaced and said, “This hole has little coal left. We’ll soon have to start digging elsewhere.” Rat-hole miners, she said, typically entered a one-metre hole and dug on and away to uncover layers of coal. When the hole ran dry, they dug elsewhere. Entire hillsides in Meghalaya are criss-crossed with such holes and tunnels, local ecology be damned. “What happens if the hole caves in?” I asked. “Tunnel collapses aren’t uncommon. But people like us are migrants, no one cares about us. Most accidents just go unreported…” she said. Yet, poor migrants like them had few other employment options, she said. “Most Khasi landowners are shifting away from agriculture to mining, as this is more lucrative,” she said.

As we left them, I commented on how unjust this system was. “It certainly is,” agreed Gregory, “but if you dig for coal, you will blacken your hands!”

New RRI Report on Forest Tenure Rights

With over 50 new laws passed to protect forest tenure rights and an increase from 10-15% to 21-31% of forest owned or controlled by Indigenous Peoples and forest communities from 1992 to today, there has been significant progress. This is not only a significant advance for communities, it also strengthens conservation as community managed forests outperformed public protected areas in preventing deforestation. Unfortunately, much of this progress has come in a few countries, most of them in Latin America. Most countries lack effective protections for the tenure rights of communities. While there is increased recognition of traditional land tenure rights, much of this recognition has had limited impact. Increased large-scale land acquisitions threaten to further undermine tenure security. 

In this context, the Rights and Resources Initiative has prepared a new report to take stock of the progress made since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro’s commitment to sustainable development. The report includes specific examples from China, Brazil, India, Nepal, Cameroon and Mexico. 

The report can be downloaded here. The summary can be found here.

Special Rapporteurs Warn on Large-Scale Land Acquisitions

In Meruake, Indonesia, 1-2 million hectares of rainforest and small-scale farming plots are being converted into export-led crop and agrofuel plantations, potentially impacting the food security of up to 50,000 people. Three thousand hectares of land in the Isabella region of the Philippines has already been converted to sugar cane production for agrofuels, with a further 8,000 hectares being targeted. These developments are part of a broader trend in South East Asia towards increased large-scale land acquisitions for producing biofuels. 

In response to these acquisitions, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, and UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, have urged governments to “step up their vigilance in regard to large scale acquisitions to ensure that the fundamental rights of these communities are not violated, be they small-farmers, fishers, hunters, foragers or craftsmen.” The experts warned that "converting bio-diverse forest land to intensive monocropping can entail wide environmental impacts, from the loss of forest-dwelling game species in Meruake, to reduced resistance to flooding and landslides in Isabela….we must also be sensitive to the impacts of sudden influxes of workers on local food access, traditions and ways of life.” They further argued that “development is not always the outcome, however many jobs and export dollars a project promises to yield…new economic opportunities, and new, more intensive uses of land, must not be at the expense of the human rights of local populations.” 

Read more about their comments here. Read more about Special Rapporteur Anaya's work here. Read more about Special Rapporteur De Schutter's work here. 

Shillong seminar stresses eco-friendly tourism in northeast

SHILLONG: Academicians and intellectuals from across the region came together at a seminar on the occasion of World Environment Day on Tuesday and stressed that tourism in northeast India, one of the top bio-hotspots in the world, should be promoted in an eco-friendly, pro-poor and sustainable manner in order to secure the future of the people and the environment.

"Human intervention is increasing pollution, deforestation, encroachment and depleting water resources, due to which tourist places in the region have been losing their charm over the years," said a paper presented at a national seminar on 'Tourism: Economic and Environment in Northeast India', organized by the North-East India Council for Social Science Research here on Tuesday.

Noting that the region, with its "magical beauty and bewildering diversity" is a "seventh heaven" for tourists, academicians called for living within "ecological limits" and creating "satisfying lives for all within the means of nature".

Yet another paper noted that in most parts of the region, rapid environmental crisis in urban centres has increased the prospects of tourism in rural areas. "Rural tourism can be used as a development tool for isolated areas and can also increase non-farming activities in the region, which is a treasure of natural resources and ethnic culture," it stressed.

"Ecotourism involving local people not only enhances the level of income of the stakeholders, but also encourages them to conserve natural resources," one of the participants observed.

Noting that tourism is the largest service industry in India today, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP, providing 8.78% employment and is a major source of foreign exchange earnings, participants emphasized on promoting the 'smokeless industry' in the northeast through judicious use of the region's vast natural resources.

"Northeast India is so rich in its natural and cultural resources that it has potential to develop any kind of tourism," a paper said, even as it rued that lack of infrastructure and apathy on part of the Centre and state governments has hampered the growth of tourism in the region so far.

According to researchers, except for Assam and Sikkim, the remaining northeastern states have "performed miserably" in the tourism sector. "The region has tremendous rural resources that can contribute much towards sustainable development if utilized properly by the tourism industry," they noted.

Bangladesh acting on its promise made to India: Sangma

Tura (Meghalaya), Jun 5 : The Bangladesh government is acting on its commitment to India of "not allowing their land to be misused" for any anti-India activities, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said today. "In a response to the hands of friendship extended by India, Bangladesh is acting and is officially committed to ensure that their land shall not be misused for any anti-Indian activities," he told reporters before departing to attend the CWC meeting of Congress chief ministers in Delhi. Sangma, who had just returned from Bangladesh last week, said the Northeast would have prospered had the trade and commerce been opened long back. "We are pursuing these efforts with the determination of sustainable engagement between the two countries for a mutual development on all spheres," he said. Lauding the efforts put in by the UPA leaders to improve the bilateral relations with neighbouring countries, Mukul said, "The foreign visits made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bridge relationship between neighbouring countries, is paying dividends." "The neighbouring countries are willingly acting to take prompt actions to ensure that cordial relationships are being maintained," he said.

Roundtable on the Green Economy in Africa

On 1 June, Natural Justice participated in a roundtable discussion on the prospects and challenges around an inclusive and pro-poor, natural resource-driven green economy in Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa. The roundtable, organised by the Open Society Initiative for Africa, Heinrich Boell Foundation and One World, brought together policy makers, researchers, civil society and practitioners to contribute to the debate on the green economy, define some of the policy questions and responses needed for the region, and to support key African actors to champion an inclusive, pro-poor green economy. 

Natural Justice presented on its experiences with communities that have interacted with the green economy through mechanisms such as Access and Benefit Sharing and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). The presentation emphasised that much can be learned from the traditional stewards of the lands, waters and resources, such as some of the Indigenous communities in Namibia, who have been able to maintain some of the most biodiverse areas in the world. 

Find further information on Natural Justice work on the green economy here.

ADB likely to sanction 100mn US $ to Meghalaya

NEW DELHI, Jun 4  – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to sanction a USD 100 million loan to Meghalaya for supporting development of human capital of the State.

Technical Assistance Special Fund of USD 2,25,000 has been sanctioned on Wednesday. The project envisages facilitating environment for improving Meghalaya’s human capital through skill development mission, improving learning environment in secondary schools, besides strengthening capacity in relevant Departments.

The proposed project would help in enhancing the employability of Meghalaya’s youth by improving the quality and delivery of its skill development and secondary education programmes. ADB said that given Meghalaya Government’s long-term vision and commitment, the Bank proposes to support its efforts towards human capital development.

The proposed loan is aligned with Strategy 2020 and the Country Partnership Strategy (2009-2012), which focuses on supporting India’s efforts towards inclusive growth. The Bank said that the problem of low employability is not restricted only to Meghalaya. It is a national problem constraining India’s efforts towards inclusive growth, and impeding its transition to a knowledge-based globalised economy.

It is estimated that 57 per cent of India’syouth suffer from some form of un-employment. Given their challenging mandate of skilling 500 million people by 2022 and universalising secondary education by 2017 respectively, there is urgent need to implement these Missions effectively in States such as Meghalaya, ADBsources said.

Meghalaya has rich mineral reserves, forest cover of more than 70 per cent, and enjoys abundant rainfall. It has so far been unable to tap its rich resource base effectively owing to its hilly terrain, poor connectivity, and weak infrastructure. Unfortunately, the youth, who constitute 35 per cent of the population, are unable to compete for these jobs because of the poor state of Meghalaya’s secondary education and skill development programmes.

It is estimated that 60 per cent of the secondary schools do not have Science laboratories, 72 per cent do not have separate toilets for girls, while 27 per cent do not have access to reliable drinking water. Further, only 36 per cent of Meghalaya’s teachers at the secondary level are trained as against the national average of 90 per cent.

The drop-out rate at the secondary level is high because of the poor learning environment in schools, and the overall disconnect with the State’s skill development and vocational training programmes, ADB sources said. At least 70 per cent of the labour force remains employed in low-skilled agricultural jobs.

The industrial base is narrow with only limited processing and value addition taking place within the State. Given their fluency in English, the workers of Meghalaya can potentially look for jobs in hospitality, retail services, healthcare, IT and IT-enabled services, and as airport and airline staff outside the State as well.

While 90 per cent of the employment opportunities require vocational skills, Meghalaya’s education system continues to focus on rote learning. As most skill development programmes are funded by Central Ministries, the Government of Meghalaya has limited flexibility in tailoring them to meet the State’s emerging priorities.

These programmes have become out-of-date since they are not linked with the private sector. Their placement record is poor which adds to the general stigma associated with vocational and technical training.

The State Government launched the Meghalaya Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme in 2012 to develop its human resources by enhancing their employability and income-earning potential.

As part of this programme, the Meghalaya Employment Promotion Council (EPC) has been constituted with the mandate to support placement-linked skill development within and outside the State, by involving the private sector. Nine missions have been launched so far.

New Report on Southern Voices on Climate Change Policy

On 21 May, the Southern Voices Capacity Building Programme launched a new report, “Southern Voices on Climate Policy Choices – analysis of and lessons learned from civil society advocacy on climate change,” in Bonn, Germany. The report considers advocacy groups’ ability to influence climate change policy at the international, regional, national and local levels. It is based on more than 70 case studies and considers civil society's impact on legislation, policy and implementation. 

The report includes contributions from more than 20 networks, and their members, of the Southern Voices Programme and was edited by Dr Hannah Reid of the International Institute of Environment and Development and a team of Southern Voices experts. It is published by the Climate Capacity Consortium. 

The full report, along with summaries in French, Spanish and English, can be downloaded here. 

Indian Law Centre Principles on REDD+

Photo via the Indian Law Centre

The Indian Law Centre has released new principles focused on the intersection of international law, indigenous rights and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). The principles seek to stimulate further discussions on how REDD+ can be implemented with a human rights-based approach. 

The Centre has been advocating on REDD+, which seeks to compensate developing nations which reduce their rate of emissions from deforestation, and considering its potential benefits and challenges to the advancement of the livelihoods and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. The Centre has expressed particular concern on the limited protections for indigenous peoples in planned REDD+ programmes to be implemented by the World Bank, the United Nations UN-REDD Programme, and others. The Centre recommends improved policies to ensure that these programmes operate in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other instruments of international law which protect the rights of indigenous peoples. 

The principles are entitled the “International Law Principles for REDD+: The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Legal Obligations of REDD+ Actors.” The principles can be downloaded here. The Indian Law Centre requests that comments on the principles be emailed to dcoffice@indianlaw.org or feedback shared via their online survey here. Background information on the principles can be found here.