EMN
Dimapur, December 11
Including the states in the planning process, specific policy initiatives and harnessing the potential of the states have been identified as key factors for better future of the mountain states at the “meet of the mountain states”. The two-day event concluded on Thursday at the Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.Proceedings on the second day began with Prem Das Rai, Member of Parliament from Sikkim, who welcomed the gathering. In his address, he emphasized on going forward as important to energizing stakeholders, from policy makers to executives and nongovernmental organizations. He said it was the only way to achieving the vision of making every Indian ‘proud of our mountains.’
Chowna Mein, Agriculture Minister from Arunachal Pradesh, spoke about the nascent stage of farming in the state. He had suggested measures to scale up the farming process in such states including planning framework, market linkages, and green budgeting and state-farmer communications. He urged that the Government of India have separate planning process and a specific body for mountain states regarding agriculture in the Mountain states.
Neiphiu Rio, Member of Parliament from Nagaland, stressed upon the vast diversity of the mountain states, especially in the North east. He mentioned that mountain people are major sufferers of the phenomena of climate change. Water supply, connectivity, alternate livelihoods are a concern for mountain people globally.
Also, PA Sangma, Member of Parliament from Meghalaya, has reiterated the demand of having separate policy interventions for the Mountain states. “There is an urgent need to have a separate division in ministry of agriculture for Mountain states and creation of separate ministry of mountain states to ensure proper policy measures for the states” he said. Sushil Ramola, Secretary-IMI, delivered the vote of thanks to all the participants.
The second session for the day was on “Regional Consultation on Mountain Issues in light of Climate Change Negotiations”. The session was held in coordination with GLOBE India and Indian Environment Law Office (IELO). A presentation was given by IELO on evolution and status of global climate change negotiations, with a focus on India’s position. Causes of growing disasters in the Himalayan region, including impact of climate change, were also discussed.
Bhubaneshwar Kalita and Vandana Chavan, Members of Parliament who attended COP 20 held in Lima, Peru earlier this month debriefed the legislators on the proceedings at the summit.
The session was followed by a round-table discussion of policy makers from the mountain states. Impact on crops such as apple in Himachal Pradesh, large cardamom in Sikkim and the measures taken by the respective Governments were discussed by representatives from the states. Impact of climate change in states of Meghalaya and West Bengal were highlighted.
The legislators also answered questions from the gathering regarding way forward to ensure sustainable development in mountain states.
About Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI)
Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) is a civil society movement aiming at engaging all stakeholders to bring all mountain regions and mountain people of India on a common platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, concerns and duly catalyzing action. IMI was a follow-up of recommendations given by Task force constituted by the Planning Commission, in 2008, to look into problems of hill states and hill areas and to suggest ways to ensure that these states do not suffer due to their peculiarities.
