Diphu: In observance of International Women’s Day 2025, Aaranyak, in collaboration with the Centre for Karbi Studies (CKS) and the Holistic Life Transforming & Empowering Society (HLTEC), hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion at Yellow Tree Café in Diphu, Karbi Anglong.
The event brought together 55 participants from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to deliberate on crucial issues such as nature conservation, natural resource management, and the challenges faced by women in the 21st century.
Four key topics formed the crux of the discussions, each explored by a distinguished panelist.
Dr. Bandita Teronpi, Assistant Professor at Lumding College, spoke on “Women as Custodians of Nature: Traditional Roles in Biodiversity Conservation in Karbi Anglong,” emphasising the role of Karbi women as protectors and sustainable users of natural resources, aligned with the community’s belief systems.
Serlin Beypi, Forest Range Officer of Bokajan Range, highlighted “Balancing Tradition and Sustainability: Women’s Role in Addressing Forest Conservation, Resource Management, and Climate Change,” advocating for women’s participation in bridging tradition and environmental sustainability.
Entrepreneurs Charisma Rongpipi, founder of Yellow Tree Café and Happy Farmers, and Serleen Engti Katharpi, founder of Choi, discussed “Empowering Karbi Society: Women Entrepreneurs as Catalysts for Sustainable Development and Equity.”
Rongpipi stressed the importance of empowering women through small enterprises and promoting local products, while Katharpi underlined the challenges women face in earning livelihoods and the need for community support.
Jirleen Rongpipi, Centre Administrator of Sakhi – One Stop Centre in West Karbi Anglong, addressed “Empowering Women in the 21st Century: Overcoming Challenges with Sakhi – One Stop Centre’s Perspective.”
She highlighted barriers to legal access for women, early marriage as a persistent issue, and the necessity of systemic support for women’s success.
The event also served as a platform to envision women’s contributions to biodiversity conservation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
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Discussions extended to rights, legal frameworks, and safety measures for women.
Moderated by Sabin Rongpipi from the Centre for Karbi Studies, the sessions were engaging and participatory, encouraging dynamic exchanges between panelists and attendees.
Representatives from Aaranyak, including Dr. Firoz Ahmed and Jayanta Kumar Sarma, shared insights into the organisation’s initiatives in Northeast India, focusing on empowerment, conservation, and livelihood opportunities.
Aaranyak’s Natural Resource Management Programme expressed gratitude for the support of IUCN-KfW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
