Church joins crusade against climate change
Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou

Imphal, December 30 2019: In light of the rapid climate change faced today, the Churches present in the hill districts of Manipur are playing a major role in spreading awareness about climate change and its effects apart from teaching villagers on how to adapt to the changing conditions.

On the other hand, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department is play- ing a similar role of helping conserve the environment by guiding the Panchayats of the valley on water/wetland conservation and increased tree plantation.

Church joins crusade against climate change

Speaking to The Sangai Express, MBC Peace and Development Director Reverend T Karang Maram said that following the change in climatic conditions in recent times, the Government and many private bodies/organisations are taking up remedial measures to help reduce the impact of climate change.

In a similar manner, Churches are playing a major role in this regard at the hill districts of Manipur, he informed adding that MBC has a specific climate and environment policy aimed at conserving environment.

As a part of this policy, the first Sunday of the month of June every year, is observed as Environment Sunday and on this day, every Church members plant five trees each.

These trees are of different varieties which can provide sources of income to the people.

As fruits from these trees also benefit farmers, food processing training course is also planned for the people, he informed.

From April to September, hunting of animals is also banned, he added.

Reverend T Karang Maram continued that MBC has around 3 lakh members in total and the environmental awareness programmes are being conducted across 1400 Churches under the body.

Last year, MBC helped plant a total of 60,000 tress, he claimed.

Church-based NGO Development of Human Potential, Project Coordinator cum Training Director Reverend Tamithang said that the particular NGO visits the Churches located in various districts of the State, mainly those populated by the Nagas, spreading awareness about climate change to the people.

On the other hand, Rural Development and Pancha-yati Raj Joint Director Ng Khogendrajit informed that the Department has taken up steps for establishing Biodiversity Management Committee at every Panchayat as well as projects for increasing soil fertility, water resources and improving greeneries.

Imphal West DC N Praveen said that it has been resolved to make plantation of trees and implementation of water conservation methods mandatory in the work programmes of every Panchayat under MGNREGS.

ICAR Imphal scientist Dr Arti Ningombam conveyed that climate change is a very serious contemporary issue.

Rebuffing the logic that climate change will affect only the future generations, she lauded the efforts by the Churches to spread awareness among the people about the dangers of climate change, calling it a highly positive step.

Stressing on the importance of including a chapter about climate change in the academic syllabus, she explained that burning of hay aggravates the impacts of climate change.

To prevent burning of hay, farmers need to be taught about how to convert these hay into manures, she added.

Media can play a big role in spreading awareness about climate change and teachers can also impart training to the students on this particular issue, Dr Arti concluded.

Lauding the effort of the Churches, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Deputy Director Dr T Brajakumar said that such awareness programmes initiated by the Churches will ensure that knowledge about climate change reach the remote parts of the State.

(Written under the State Level Climate Change Media Fellowship of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change) .