Workshop dissects conflict, peace building
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 09 2024:
A four-day workshop on 'Youth Leadership Development on Conflict Transformation and Peace-Building' organised by Taragi Cheisu in association with Manipur University and Youth for Peace International, New Delhi concluded at the open-air theatre of Manipur University, here, on Thursday.
Speaking at the discourse, Taragi Cheisu chairman Dr RK Nimai expressed confidence that CSO and student leaders, who are actively involved in the current conflict, would apply their skills in conflict transformation and peace-building in the state.
Restoring peace in the state is not the only objective of organising the workshop but it also has a long-term vision to empower the youth with such skills.
Several countries have al ready introduced courses on peace education with value addition up to master's level.
Manipur bei ng a society of several communities and conflicts are oft en part of the society, empowering youth with conflict transformation and peace-building skills has become inevitable in order to settle conflicts at their buds, he stressed, while urging the Manipur University to introduce value-added course on peace education with three credits of 16 hours each.
It would help in enabling the youth in identifying significance of peace, resolving small conflicts at the beginning and bringing development in the society, he added.
Introducing the course would provide the University students from any subject to claim credits from it and could also be introduced from the under-graduate level as well and student from a college can always pursue the course from another college even if all the colleges could not offer such courses.
Framework for such arrangements is already in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, maintained the retired IAS officer.
In her address, Youth for Peace International, New Delhi co-founder & CEO Saumya Aggarwal said that participants of this workshop are trained in not only transforming themselves in times of conflict but also their community as well.
The main objective of the workshop is to make aware the youth and community leaders the methodology to work together and to resolve the current crisis in the state.
Everybody is aware of the impact of the crisis on the lives of the people.
Youth participating in the workshop expressed their desire for the government, community leaders and stakeholders to work together and "bring a solution to the crisis at the earliest.
They also felt the need for the communities participating in the conflict to keep aside their differences and come out for resolving the situation through negotiation, she added.
Alexa Taboada from Colombia, who attended the workshop as facilitator, said that she can see several challenges in Manipur never experienced in Colombia in the process of peace-building.
Manipur has its own unique identity, culture, natural resources and most importantly many communities.
In such a society, it is imperative to provide training and skill of conflict transformation and peace building to the youth in order to convert any inter-community conflict into positive social changes, she added.
UN Peacekeeping Officer and Taragi Cheisu treasurer retired IPS Th Brojen delivered motivational lecture as part of the closing function during which certificates and badges were also distributed to participants.
Taragi Cheisu chairman advocate Khairem Mani, secretary professor Ch Ibohal and general secretary professor Dhakeswar Potsangbam also attended the discourse as presidium members.
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