Conference :: Redefining Development: Rationalization of Indigenous Resources
Date - 29th-31st May, 2017
Call for Papers
Three Day National Conference
on
"Redefining Development: Rationalization of Indigenous Resources"
Date: 29th-31st May, 2017
Venue: TTA Hall, Ukhrul, Manipur
Organised by Tangkhul Scholars'Association in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Manipur.
About the Conference
Practical knowledge of the natural world is not confined to modern sciences alone. Indeed, indigenous knowledge or what is popularly known as "traditional knowledge," that is unique to a native culture or community, often contains a treasure trove of knowledge and cultured understanding that is instrumental in guiding human societies in their interactions with the natural milieu.
However, at present, to meet the demand from the available market along with unprecedented human population pressure, there has been shift from what was once an traditional agrarian community built on certain ideals and ethics of mutually beneficial interaction between human and nature to what is called service based sedentary livelihood based on profit maximisation at the expense of nature. Such actions result in gradual negligence of traditional virtues which ultimately leads to erosion of traditional knowledge along with the resources in traditional village ecosystem.
Along with the blundering of natural resources, traditional communities in Northeast India has become overdependence on cash flow from various government implemented developmental programmes/schemes such as fund for construction of schools, hospitals, road, health and housing scheme and labour under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of 2005, etc, resulting into gradually discouraging traditional farming systems-associated knowledge.
The introduction of 'modern' education, with an undue emphasis on abstract learning, is also a cause for grave concern as it risks much of the valuable indigenous knowledge about sustainable ways of living. With abandonment of traditional management practices, the associated traditional knowledge gets loss. The spirit of self-reliance which has been part of the tribal society is slowly getting eroded and get replaced by dependent mentality on outsiders. As such, there is urgent need for development of products and technology based on locally available resources rather than dependence from outside.
Therefore, the main objective of this three day conference is to make local community realise the precariousness of unsustainable use of our resources and also to inculcate the spirit of self-reliance by bringing together the theoretical and empirical aspects of rationalization of indigenous resource through local and global experiences on the development related issues in traditional communities in Northeast India.
It is also aimed at bringing the legacy of rich history of self-reliant village economy which has been part of the living traditions of the tribal society by way of sustainable management practices. The conference will also review the effectiveness of various governmental implemented programmes and policies with respect to the development of the region and re-examine the environmental challenges that arise as a result.
Call for paper
Papers are invited from interested teachers, researchers, managers, policy makers, professionals, etc. An abstract of about 300 words, along with a brief bio-data, can be mailed to: [email protected] on or before 30th of April 2017. The full paper should be submitted on or before 15th of May, 2017 (subject to acceptance).
Covering sub-themes (including but not limited to):
o Rationalization of land utilization and other natural resources
o Development and its impact on environment
o Gender and development
o Traditional knowledge and sustainable development
o Integrating indigenous knowledge and formal education
o Traditional ecological knowledge, development and sustainable living
* This information is sent by Dr. Tuisem Ngakang who can be contacted at tuisem(DOT)ngakang(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Post is webcasted on April 08 2017
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.