Skip to content Skip to navigation

People's Dialogue on Development Discourse in North East India Sparks Inclusive Conversation

Dibrugarh - The North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) and the Environmental Forum of Assam, in collaboration with the Centre for Social Work Studies at Dibrugarh University, successfully hosted a two-day 'People's Dialogue on Development Discourse in North East India' from August 28th to 29th. The event, held at the Vikshan conference hall of Dibrugarh University, gathered a diverse group of regional stakeholders to engage in insightful conversations aimed at reshaping development approaches in the North-East.

The North-East region of India, known for its cultural diversity and unique geography, has often been a focal point for discussions on development, infrastructure, and socio-economic growth. However, a disconnect has persistently existed between top-down development initiatives and the perspectives, needs, and aspirations of indigenous communities. This initiative sought to bridge that gap by providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

The event saw a remarkable turnout, featuring participants from civil society organizations, local community leaders, indigenous representatives, development workers, academics, and students. This diversity ensured a comprehensive exchange of ideas that captured the region's developmental challenges.

Dr. Nitul Kumar Gogoi, Chairperson of the Centre for Social Work Studies, extended a warm welcome to all participants, while Professor Deb Kumar Chakraborty, DEAN of the School of Social Science, delivered an inaugural address shedding light on various aspects of development policies in the region, their potential implications, and the vital need for community participation.

The intensive agenda covered a wide range of topics, including climate crisis, sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, infrastructure development, transboundary water governance, and cultural preservation. Various sessions, including panel discussions and interactive workshops, provided a platform for participants to share experiences and best practices for integrating traditional wisdom with modern development paradigms.

A key focus of the consultation was amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and indigenous peoples. NEADS's effort to prioritize their participation underscored the importance of an equitable and inclusive developmental approach.

Tirtha Prasad Saikia, the Director of NEADS, emphasized in his remarks that the objective of this collective dialogue was to identify community-specific needs, people's aspirations, and priorities to ensure that development interventions are tailored to local contexts.

The event also stressed the necessity for synergy among diverse stakeholders to achieve sustainable and people-centric development in the region. Attendees underscored the importance of localized ownership of development initiatives, participatory decision-making, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into policy formulation. The dialogue highlighted the power of inclusive discourse in shaping holistic and effective developmental approaches. By uniting individuals with varied perspectives and backgrounds, NEADS has taken an important stride towards building a sustainable community.

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Application for artiste pension before June 25

27 May 2013 - 9:49pm | Abdul Gani
The Assam Government will offer Artiste Pension to persons having outstanding contributions in the field of art and culture in the State. Special Family Pension will also be offered to indigent...

2 held in Chirang

2 Jun 2019 - 9:12pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Kokrajhar: Security forces apprehended two youths who were allegedly involved in arms dealing from Basugaon area in Chirang district on Sunday morning. Based on an inputs about movement of youths,...

Reign of violence in Manipur

31 Aug 2015 - 10:06pm | AT News
Security forces are spreading tentacle in Manipur to rein in the mob who set on fire some houses hours after the assembly passed three bills much to the upper disappointment of a section of hills...

6 ULFA men held in Meghalaya

22 Oct 2014 - 7:27pm | AT News
Security forces claimed to have held six dreaded ULFA militants near Goalpara district along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Wednesday.According to defence sources, the militants were captured at...

Other Contents by Author

Guwahati, December 18, 2024: The School of Social Work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus, held its first-ever Inhmukhawm: Field Work Organisations’ Meet on Wednesday. The event, themed "Buen Vivr: Co-building a Sustainable and Just Future," brought together nearly 100 participants, including grassroots organizations, NGOs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) representatives. Aligning with the International World Social Work Day 2024, the gathering focused on social work, sustainability, and justice, providing a platform for dialogue, learning, and collaborative innovation to enhance student fieldwork initiatives. The event commenced with a warm...
Guwahati, Assam: The Business Incubation Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture (BICFA) at Guwahati Biotech Park (GBP), under the Department of Science, Technology & Climate Change, Government of Assam, successfully organized a three-day hands-on training program on Feed Analysis and Nutrient Composition of Animal and Fish Feed. The program aimed to educate startups, researchers, and students and was held at GBP and the Feed Testing Laboratory, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Khanapara. Dr. Bula Choudhury, Senior Scientist at GBP and Convener of the program, welcomed the participants. She highlighted the vision of...
A transformative gathering of educators took place at the Mayflower Hotel in Guwahati, where 76 educators from 38 schools across Assam and Meghalaya came together for WWF-India’s Educators’ Conclave 2024 on November 29. The event focused on empowering educators to instill environmental stewardship and climate literacy in students, while sharing innovative strategies to make schools sustainable and eco-conscious hubs of learning. With the theme “Raising Generation 30,” the conclave explored actionable ideas for transforming education systems to address pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. “The role of educators in shaping future environmental...
Chandigarh: Former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has shared an inspiring story of his wife's recovery from cancer, attributing her remarkable progress to a strict diet plan inspired by ancient Indian Ayurveda, Nobel Prize-winning research on autophagy by Yoshinori Ohsumi, and guidance from medical experts. The plan, Sidhu revealed, helped his wife recover in just 40 days after undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Speaking to the media, Sidhu expressed his gratitude for the holistic approach, which combined positivity, lifestyle changes, and a disciplined nutritional regimen. “Positivity, determination, and the right diet can create miracles,” he said...
The Directorate of Cultural Affairs under the Assam government marked its 53rd anniversary with a historic event celebrating the recognition of Asomiya (Assamese) as a classical language. Held at the iconic Rabindra Bhawan, the evening highlighted the significance of this achievement and charted a roadmap for the language's preservation and growth in written and colloquial forms. The courtyard of Rabindra Bhawan, adorned with vibrant decorations and a podium beneath lush Bokul trees, hosted an enthusiastic audience of dignitaries and scholars. As the sun dipped below the Brahmaputra’s horizon, the program commenced with three distinguished panelists sharing their insights. The...
Tensions escalated in Manipur’s violence-hit Jiribam district on Sunday night as clashes between security forces and protesters turned deadly, officials reported. A young protester, identified as 21-year-old K. Athouba, was fatally shot amid the chaos. A police official confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine who fired the fatal shot, while protesters allege that a Manipur Police special commando unit was responsible. Two others were reported injured in the incident. The violence erupted as mobs attacked and vandalized properties belonging to political leaders and various party offices. According to police reports, the unrest began at Babupara before spreading to other...
The body of a tiger was discovered in the Horonbali Chapori area of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, located in Assam’s Biswanath district, on Monday. Forest guards came across the carcass during a routine patrol and alerted senior officials, who subsequently arrived at the scene to recover the remains. Preliminary findings suggest that the tiger may have died as a result of a fight with another tiger. To confirm the exact cause of death, samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. The disposal of the carcass was carried out under the supervision of senior forest officials and veterinary doctors. Kaziranga National Park, recognized as a Tiger Reserve...
Guwahati Police has successfully busted a cybercrime gang involved in a major fraud operation. Eight individuals were arrested following a raid at a lodge in Boragaon. The gang was operating a network of "mule bank accounts" to facilitate the transfer of illegally obtained money. The arrested individuals were involved in opening bank accounts using fake identities and documents. They would then hand over these accounts to cybercriminals who used them to launder money obtained through online scams. The police seized numerous items, including mobile phones, ATM cards, cheque books, and electronic devices, from the arrested individuals. A case has been registered against the accused, and...
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to six police stations across five districts in Manipur. This decision, effective immediately, will remain in place until March 31, 2025. The affected areas include Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, and Moirang police stations in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, and Bishnupur districts. The extension is aimed at empowering security forces to conduct coordinated operations and address the ongoing ethnic violence and insurgent activity in the region. The MHA's decision follows a comprehensive review of the security situation in Manipur, which continues to be volatile...
The voting under by-polls in six assembly constituencies of Assam and Meghalaya, conducted to fill up the vacant seats (as the respective legislators had shifted their focus to the national politics after winning the recently conducted Lok Sabha polls), ended largely peacefully on Wednesday evening with a satisfactory over 70% voters’ turn out. The fate of all candidates is stored in the electronic voting machines, which will be opened on 23 November next. Along with these seats, by-polls for over 40 assembly constituencies (along with two Lok Sabha seats) in other parts of India are on the card along with the State assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand before the counting day...