National Shramdaan Conference begins

ROING, Apr 28: The two-day National Shramdaan Conference 2018 on ‘Sustainable eco-development: Community innovators and entrepreneurs – Mission Roing for New India 2022’ began here on Saturday.
The conference is being organised by Varanasi-based Sakaar Sewa Samity and local NGO Amyaa. It is aimed at empowering community innovators, local entrepreneurs and problem-facers by providing them with technological and entrepreneurship skills and mentorship by conscious individuals from diverse professional expertise across the nation, and nurturing them into problem solvers.
Lower Dibang Valley Deputy Commissioner Mitali Namchoom advised the youths to take the opportunity to interact with people who are actually doing the work at the grassroots level and take it as an impetus to work for the common good of the community.
The DC advised all to incorporate low-cost sustainable technology in everyday life. She also advised the innovators and budding entrepreneurs that the technology they created should not only be marketable but also should not be detrimental to the environment.
“Take inspiration from people who are here and who are doing things without expecting anything in return. Interact with these people and get inspired. If you work selflessly then you get love and recognition which helps the community and your cause,” she said.
Temsutula Imsong of Sakaar Sewa Samiti, who started the Shramdaan activity with her team of young volunteers at Varanasi, gave a brief overview of the conference and its origin. She said that Shramdaan was already being done by many by donating time and effort for a good cause, so it was decided to bring all the groups together to share their experiences and ideas, and so started the Shramdaan conference.
“We should not think of Shramdaan only during the conference but should imbibe the values of cleanliness and Shramdaan in our daily lives and also motivate others to do the same,” she said.
“Swachh Bharat can be successful only with behavioural and attitudinal change in the people towards cleanliness,” she added.
Jadhav Payeng, the Forest Man of India, spoke on his inspiration and the influences in his work to reforest a barren sandbar of the Brahmaputra.
“Do not ask what the state gives you but work for the development of your place,” he said, and advised people to start planting trees and contribute in a small way to stop climate change.
SP SK Sain, Dr Rajiko Dele, Paul Chawang of Amyaa, and others spoke.
Chawang gave a brief overview of the National Shramdaan Conference 2018 and briefed about the activities of Amyaa and IClean Roing. (DIPRO)