NBHM Chairman, Obed Quinker and Team Leader Sentiwapang Aier along with Team members at Seithekema ‘C’ village under Chümoukedima district on May 25.
Chümoukedima, May 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) Team led by the Chairman Obed Quinker and Team Leader Sentiwapang Aier held a programme with members of Seithekema ‘C’ Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) at Seithekema ‘C’ village under Chümoukedima district on May 25.
The establishment of VDVK is a programme supported by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India with NBHM as one of the implementing agency, stated a press release received here.
The programme was held in the presence of women members of 10 Self Help Groups from three cluster villages, namely Seithekema ‘C’, Seithekema Old and Seithekema ‘A’. Village council members and GBs of the three villages also attended the programme.
During the programme, NBHM Chairman, Obed Quinker stated that Seithekema ‘C’ and its surrounding villages were selected due to the strategic landmark of the area, since the area of the three villages were located at the confluence of two topography, an area where the plain area ends and the hills starts. He added that the area has the potentials for growing and harvesting of both hilly area crops and the plain area crops.
Quinker said that NBHM as the implementing agency has provided the required training and skilling for the beneficiaries and the requisite tools and equipments were provided for the beneficiaries of the three villages and hoped that through the Van Dhan programme, the livelihoods of the people in the selected villages would be improved. He encouraged the beneficiaries to take the project as their very own programme, so that through this programme livelihood activities would be generated and economic stability would be achieved.
Stated that the Government programmes are always meant for the welfare of the public, he urged the gathering to lend support and cooperation to all government schemes and projects, whether big or small by giving their sincere and dedicated efforts in order to make the programme a success. ‘Through the effective performances at the grassroots a chain reaction would be set rolling and the implementing agencies would be encouraged to come forward to provide more schemes for the benefit of the populace at the grassroots,’ he added.
Delivering the keynote address, NBHM Team Leader, Sentiwapang Aier stated that TRIFED has come forward to support NBHM to be one of the implementing agencies of the VDVK programmes “after seeing the sincerity, progress and achievements of the mission activities.”
“NBHM has been implementing the beekeeping and honey development programmes in the State since its inception as a part of the farming activity and for enhancing livelihood of communities. With the introduction of the VDVK programs it would further provide diversified livelihood activities and opportunities along with the beekeeping activities,” Aier stated.
He remarked that under the programme, honey and its byproducts as minor forest products is being taken up in those districts where there is more forest coverage and where beekeeping activities has taken up on larger scale.
The NBHM Team Leader said that the VDVKs of different districts have taken up different activities based on their location and the resources available in their respective areas. He noted that the Seithekema VDVK cluster villages have aptly taken up value additions of various MFPs as part of their SHG activities, he further said, they have the added advantage of a ready nearby market due to their proximity to commercial towns.
Therefore, he urged the members of the SHGs with their vast experience to collaborate and calibrate their ideas to suit their environment and their conditions so that it benefits the VDVK effectively. He also urged upon the men folk of the area to lend their support and encouragement to the women SHGs in their activities.
On behalf of the three village councils, VDB Secretary of Seithekema ‘C,’ Alo Rengma expressed gratitude to NBHM for uplifting and promoting the womenfolk of the different SHG groups through the different training programmes and expressed hope that in the near future more opportunities would be provided by the implementing agency.
The programme was chaired by Chubanungla Shilu, Team member in charge of Chümoukedima and Dimapur districts. The welcome address was delivered by Mhabeni Ezung, treasurer of the VDVK, report on the van dhan activities was delivered by VDVK Secretary Medeno Angami, dedicatory prayer for the tools and machineries was pronounced by VDVK member Pfuzero Thepa, while the VDVK President Thezano Makritsu delivered the vote of thanks.
This was followed by demonstration session of the tools and equipment’s by Mhathung Tsopoe, Team member NBHM & coordinator of TRIFED along with Akumyanger, Project Assistant NBHM.
It may be mentioned that with the support from TRIFED, NBHM has established four Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Chümoukedima and Dimapur districts, namely Seithekema ‘C’ VDVK, Ruzaphema VDVK, Indisen-Aoyimkhum VDVK and Bungsang VDVK covering a total of seven villages where NBHM has earlier organised training programmes on pickle making, fruit candy making and mushroom cultivation with the collaboration of ‘Deshen Foods’ and ‘Konger Agri Tech Pvt Ltd’ as resource persons. The training programmes benefitted a total of 277 tribal women SHG members who would serve as trainers for other beneficiaries in their respective VDVKs.
