Germany-funded project launched to strengthen social cohesion
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, December 19 2021: A project named Friends Across Barriers (FAB) with MANEDA, Senapati as the nodal agency cum Cultural Community Event was inaugurated by Senapati deputy commissioner (DC) Mahesh Chaudhari as chief guest on Saturday at Thangal Ecological Park, Mayangkhang.

In her welcome note, FAB coordinator Meveine Kazia Sousho stated that the project aims to strengthen social cohesion among communities by coming together as one and bring peaceful atmosphere.

The project coordinator also sought the cooperation of all for successful conduct of the programme through active participation.

Elaborating on the project funded by Germany, MANEDA director T Peter Rangnamei informed that the project at the national level is divided into southern, northern and eastern zones with north east region clubbed in the eastern zone.

The north east partners are entitled "Friends across Barriers" with the thought that the north eastern states have lots of barriers.

The project targets the young minds, children in the age group of 5-15 years and youth in the age group of 16-25 years of age including women who are also known as the architect of a society.

There are three partners in Mani-pur including MANEDA in Senapati, Saikul in Kangpokpi district and one in Tengnoupal district.

The activity of the project is to inculcate the value of humanity in the young minds so that the thought of 'ism' is kept away with in the society among the sub-tribes.

The project is for 4 years and it would cover areas from T Khullen to Kathikho Karong numbering a total of 16 villages representing all the tribes including two each villages of Maram, Thangal, Kuki, Mao, Poumai and Liangmei communities and one Tangkhul village.

The 16 villages would bring out ideas of the society targeting government schools and primary schools and find out what they aspire from the society.

The project would target to form Children's Parliament so that they could come out with their own ideas and then written reports would be sent to the village authorities, CSOs, district DC, state capital and even to national capital including the President of India.

It is a platform to put new ideas for betterment of the society although it may take some processes to realise, the director stated.

Speaking on the occasion, Senapati District Students' Association president Pung Mark expressed his happiness over targeting especially the student community under the project.

The student leader stated that realising one's rights empowers oneself.

The name of the project FAB itself is interesting, he said and hope that it would usher in better change in the society with the union of different tribes.

In his address, DC Mahesh Chaudhari lauded the mission, which he said, will teach people the values of humanity.

The DC also praised the people of the region for their open mindedness and equality that is prevailing in the society.

The DC, being from a different state, also expressed his happiness on learning new lifestyles of the people he has been posted in different places of Manipur.

He then made an appeal for maximum participation to make the project a success.

The latter part of the programme witnessed cultural dances showcasing beautiful traditional attires of the people living in project areas.

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