Sobhapati Samom
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 26
YOUTHS of 11 Himalayan states of the country have recommended formation of a working group with a fair and combined representation of youths, academics, experts, progressive farmers and governments to review the existing agriculture policies of each mountain state and come up with recommendations and policies specific to this region.This, among other recommendations, was recommended by the a group of 120 young delegates, including young professionals, on the penultimate day of the two-day 1st Indian Himalayan States Youth Summit which concluded at Kisama (Kohima) on September 23. However, the recommendations were formally announced as ‘Kohima Declaration’ on the second day of the ongoing 3-day Sustainable Mountain Development Summit III at the State capital Kohima on Thursday.
The youths of the Himalayan states also voiced strong opposition to the rampant construction of mega dams and hydro power projects and urged the governments to consult and take consent of the local community on the issue.
The Himalayan states include eight NE states and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Darjeeling(West Bengal).
The declaration has also called upon the governments to declare the Himalayan states as organic zone to encourage youth entrepreneurship through promotion of local food and eco-tourism.
“We call upon the governments to declare the Himalayan states as organic zone to encourage youth entrepreneurship through promotion of local food and eco-tourism,” it said.
It also demanded a farmer-friendly infrastructure, low cost post harvest technology, storage facilities easily accessible to farmers and villagers.
The youths also called upon the states to implement integrated tourism policies empowering local communities and youths which would help in promoting eco-entrepreneurship.
The declaration reaffirmed the wildlife and forest acts and further suggested reinforcement of the policies to curtail bio-piracy and stringent laws against poachers. “We strongly urge the development policies implemented to be mountain specific and eco-sensitive,” it stated.
It further recommends inclusion of mountain specific environment education, local history, cultural and traditional knowledge, local languages in the high school and college curriculum.
“We suggest strict monitoring and implementation of minimum wage and labour policies, annual inventory of illegal immigrants and regulate the growing economic migrants”, it said.
The summit also strongly felt the need to set up a youth wing in the institution of Indian Mountain Initiative and further agree to organize the Indian Himalayan youth summit annually in Kohima.