International Day of Action for Rivers 2019 celebrated in Churachandpur, Manipur

The International Day of Action for Rivers was celebrated on March 14th, 2019, by RWUS in collaboration with ADC, Churachandpur. The event was held at the RWUS Training Hall and was attended by 81 participants, including different CSOs/CBOs, Women Environment Promoters, WinG promoters, and NGO partners. Local print media and press also covered the event, and awareness on the importance of rivers/streams and their protection was spread through their local cable network and newspaper to the general public across the district.

The program was observed into two sessions. The first session was held at RWUS Training Hall with a resource person and special invitees, while the second session was observed through collective efforts in cleaning up Chiengkawn stream with the assistance of JCB excavator and Tripper Truck to dump the trash collected by the participants and JCB Excavator.

The first session was hosted by Mr. Samuel L. Shakum, Program Manager of RWUS, who introduced the program, special invitees, and the resource person and topics of the event. Mrs. Mary Beth Sanate, Chief Functionary, RWUS, presented the keynote address, highlighting the theme of UN for the International Days of Action for Rivers, which is “The role of women in protecting and managing waters.”

Honorable ADC Chairman, Pu T. Paukhanlian, reiterated his concern about the environment and resources, mentioning the reckless and irresponsible attitude of the general public while disposing of waste, thereby rendering water resources unusable. He appreciated RWUS for taking up the initiative to observe the International Day of Action for Rivers and suggested conducting a proper study on the condition of rivers and streams and their impact on health.

The presentation was followed by a speech from the resource person, Mrs. Joseph R. Hmar, President, Hmar Inpui (Hmar supreme house), who talked about the background of International Day of River, Water and life, and the gender issues related to water. He suggested a proper dialogue, transparency, and accountability for the persons/families affected by dams. Customary Resource management, already practiced by our forefathers, has to be continued, according to him. He emphasized the need for our generation to protect and utilize our resources properly and in a sustainable manner for our younger generations too.

Another resource person, Dr. Immanuel Zarzosang Varte, Asst. Professor, talked on “The role of civil societies in protecting Natural resources (special reference to rivers) for development and peace.” He began his speech by stating the importance of water in our lives, environment, and for our living, and its contribution to our life. He emphasized the need to have a sense of responsibility for our rivers and streams and how we can protect them. He shared his personal experience on the management of garbage and added that before, water was accessible, but now it is used as a commodity and commercial use, which has dried up our rivers and streams, leading to the dried up of domestic water ponds, hand pumps, bore wells, and ring wells.

The second session was held through collective efforts in cleaning up Chiengkawn stream with the help of an excavator and Tripper Truck. Ten special invitees were given small gifts as a token of appreciation for their support and participation. The program ended with the suggestion of conducting more events like this in the future.

The second session of the program involved a collective effort by the participants in cleaning up Chiengkawn stream. With the assistance of a JCB excavator and Tripper Truck, the group was able to dump the trash collected by the participants and the excavator. This action campaign was important in showing the commitment of the participants to protecting and preserving the rivers and streams in their area.

Overall, the International Day of Action for Rivers was a success. The event was able to draw attention to the importance of rivers and streams, and the need to protect them from pollution and other threats. The event also provided an opportunity for various CSOs/CBOs, WinG promoters, Women Environment Promoters, and NGO partners to work together towards a common goal. The local print media and press also played a vital role in the coverage of the program and helped in spreading awareness on the importance of rivers/streams and their protection through their local cable network and newspapers to the general public across the district.

In conclusion, the International Day of Action for Rivers 2019 was a significant event that highlighted the need to protect and preserve our rivers and streams. It brought together various stakeholders who were committed to working towards a common goal, and it demonstrated the importance of collective action in achieving meaningful change. By raising awareness about the importance of our water resources, events like this can help to inspire individuals and communities to take action to protect and preserve our rivers and streams for future generations.