Attendees during a a capacity building and training programme for rural leaders under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) at Sakraba Village Community Hall on March 21.
Phek, March 31 (MExN): The Department of Rural Development, Nagaland, in collaboration with the Secheku Area Public Organisation (SAPO), Phek, organised a capacity building and training programme for rural leaders under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) at Sakraba Village Community Hall on March 21.
The programme was chaired by SAPO General Secretary Tho-o Shupao and began with an invocation prayer by Catechist Vezotha D Vadeo. SAPO President Welhipe Chiero delivered the welcome address.
Resource person Enyiwekha Wezah, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Phek, spoke on “Conservation of Biodiversity,” highlighting threats such as deforestation, shifting cultivation and unsustainable resource use. He encouraged village leaders to promote community forest management, adopt sustainable land-use practices and raise awareness on environmental protection, while emphasising the need to balance development with ecological sustainability.
State Programme Manager (SPM), RGSA, Kezhasalie Medoze delivered a session on “Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP),” explaining its role in decentralised planning and inclusive development.
He elaborated on the preparation process, including need identification, community participation, resource mapping and prioritisation, and urged leaders to ensure participation of women and marginalised groups.
The programme also featured folk song performances by Kiino D Vadeo and Chozino Vadeo.
The vote of thanks was proposed by SAPO Vice President Vezhoi Lohe, while the programme concluded with a closing prayer by P Paul Dukru, a senior leader of the area, informed a press release.
