COMMUNITY LED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PROJECT (CLLMP)

The Government of Meghalaya with financial help from the World Bank is implementing the Meghalaya Community Led Landscape Management Project (MCLLMP). The project covers the entire state of Meghalaya, and implementation of community-led plans are rolled out in a phased manner throughout the state. The Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) will facilitate community-led planning by providing support, technical inputs and funding.

The project is intended to strengthen community-led natural resources management in selected landscapes within the 7 districts of the state. This would be achieved through a variety of planning, capacity building, and on-the-ground interventions to promote the conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, social inclusion and community mobilization; building traditional knowledge and learning, mapping of natural resources management; strengthening the community institutions and creating linkage with financial institutions and community organizations.

The project interventions will include preparation of community led natural resource management plans. The CLLMP has the following three components:

1. Strengthening Knowledge and Capacity of Communities for Natural Resources Management

2. Community-Led Landscape Planning and Implementation

3. Project Management and Governance

The project objective is “to manage and conserve the natural resources, especially forests, soil and water sources, in a manner that supports the financial and physical well-being of communities in the State”

INTRODUCTION

Aminda Simsanggre Village is a medium size village located in West Garo Hills district in the state of Meghalaya. Agriculture is the main profession of this village and does not have any industrial development. Even though the village has very little known to the development sectors and does not take any concern over reviving, rejuvenating as well as protecting the environment. Aminda Simsanggre village still have a chance to work towards conserving and protecting the natural resources of the village. This village is around 22 km from the main town of Garo Hills, Tura.

Aminda Simsanggre is one among the progressive villages situated in Gambegre C&RD Block under West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya. The village area is around 960.31 (Ha) with 105 (HH) families residing and the total population of 724.

The village distance is about 3 km from Block office and 22 km from district headquarter, Tura. The District team of West Garo Hills visited and initiated the village for Ground truthing and sensitization programme on CLLMP project on 14th December, 2018.

HISTORY

According to oral tradition the village is around 700 years old. The first settler of Aminda Simsang is the family of a man named Janing. Shri. Janing worked as a Dobasi (village observer) under the British Raj. Besides this, they cultivate different types of crops of local varieties such as rice, millets, amize, etc. and vegetables and spices like yum, tajong (local name), ginger, etc.

During early times the community people after their harvest they first give sacrificial offer to their deity called ‘Misi-Saljong’ who is the giver of all their needs. Then only they will celebrate ‘wangala’ ceremony and eat and drink among the whole community to commemorate the end to yearly harvest.

Since there were no formal education, the community believed in superstition. And everyone was engaged in cultivation. The community people believed that once the land becomes infertile, it is no longer used for cultivation and preserved as sacred groves. Felling of trees and using its resources were strictly prohibited. One such sacred grove is named as ‘Salaktata’ or ‘Salak bi∙sik’. This place is also a catchment area and it is of great importance to the community people.

Also, during the time when British arrived in Garo Hills, they sent various workers in all the villages for the purpose of surveying. One such surveyor also arrived in Aminda Simsang. He was known as Walker Saheb. He lights the beacon on top of three mountains, namely, Aminda Ganchi Gata, Ranggira, and Diwali. That is how the place got its name ‘Ganchi-Gata. ‘Ganchi-Gata’ means lighting a beacon. It was believed that in that particular Ganchi Gata Mountain there was a buried garo traditional idiophone (locally known as ‘Rang’). This ‘Rang’ was in scripted with images of various animals and mammals. People believed that this particular ‘Rang’ was found by Walker Saheb.

SOCIAL PROFILE

The Village is about 3Km away from Gambegre blocks and 22 km away from district headquarter Tura. The public transport facilities to and from village is in public transport, maxi cab and private vehicle. In respect to the Social Mobilization, it wasn’t that difficult to handle the community of this village as they are active and hardworking. Despite of very less facilities available, the community are very keen towards achieving the aims and objectives of CLLMP.

When it comes to use of fuel /LPG /biomass/gas most of the households are using Woods and very less access to LPG. The community has few facilities such as education, safe drinking water supply, road and access to medical facilities. The village is under Head of village (Nokma).

In regards to social profile, Aminda Simsanggre village has total no of 105 households with the total population of 724.Out of which410 are male and314 are female.

The following is the demographic break up information acquired by the CLLMP team of WGH district.

Aminda Simsanggre Village is still lot to catch up even though it is one of the villages nearest to the Tura town area. Aminda Simsanggre village are still into farming which includes agriculture and multi cropping. Unlike any other village’s Arecanut is always one of the most grown cash crops followed by black pepper, banana, pineapple etc. People came to observe and realize that the hill is gradually losing its soil fertility and water retention properties. There are 85 HH farmers, 14 HH Labourer and 6 HH ar Gov’t Service.

ACTIVITIES

GROUND TRUTHING AND SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME

Ground truthing and sensitization programme was held on 13th Dec, 2018.The Team of West Garo Hills District, visited the village and collected the necessary data. They have informed the community about the project and activities/interventions that can be undertaken under the project period for five years. The need of Executive committee consisting of nine members both male and female, Village facilitators were further explained to the community members.

The sensitization programmes were attended by headmen, VEC secretary as well as women of different groups and youths of the village. There were around 30 participants for the sensitization programme. As a result the community agreed to form the VNRMC EC, members and agreed to signed EOI, Green Charter and VGA.

Case Findings/Challenges

1. The village has lot of water problems especially there is no proper drinking water supply.

2. The village is degraded and has limited greenery in and around the village.

3. There is no nearby hospitals or PHC

4. The community follows Christianity

5. No proper road connectivity

6. Source of water is ring wells, springs etc.

7. There is a Community forest which has timber, herbs in it.

8. 95% of the population are farmers and daily wagers.

9. Women participant in decision making equally as men.

10. Most of them use woods as a source of cooking.

11. Toilet facilities and sanitation is being followed however is still lacking

12. There is no such committee to look after the cleanliness of the village

13. There is no waste management or a system of disposing the waste. They burn usually burn or dispose it in their own campus.

14. There is no dispute encountered by the community in regards to land, forest, water etc.

15. They have only one water tank constructed through MGNREGS. It’s the most demanded source of drinking water for the entire village.

LIST OF NATURAL RESOURCES

1. The list of indigenous tree species are –Chigambal, Aminsep, Chambu, Bolbit, Achribol

2. The Valuable grasses of the village are- Samsi, samsok, Ampang, Kosi, Miga, Simmu, Salsrip, sarat, dorikme, Bolmandal, Memangtamachi, Mibitchi, Kakubudu, Kositip, Nagri, Kimdotchi

3. Commercially valued Trees/ Shrubs/Plants in forests/- Dokgrikme, Dakat, Dotmejapa, Dojakgipi, Sarat, Mimangtamachi, Kimdotchi, kasi, Broom, Pangsimit.

   1. Signing of Documents:

As an acceptance and agreement to the project, every member of the village households had to sign green charter on 18^th Dec 2018 and submitted the Village agreement and Expression of Interest to DPMU.

2. Formation of the VNRMC

On 17th Dec, 2018 after the ground survey and sensitization programme, the village signed the EOI, VGA and Green charter as a sign of accepting the project. Whereas in regards, to the selection of Village Natural Resource Management Committee(VNRMC) members the Village Executive Committee (VEC) along with entire community carried out the process of selecting 15 chosen members such as 9 Executive members, 3 Purchase committee and 3 Village Community Facilitator

3. Listed below are the members of the VNRMC:

Sl No	Name in Full	Gender M/F	Age (in Yrs)	Education	Designation	Occupation	Community	Contact No and email address
1	PrenjonathSangma	M	59	Class X	Chairman	Farmer	Garo	9363661451
2	ThiuberthSangma	M	46	Class X	Member	Farmer	Garo	7005903244
3	LippinChSangma	M	25	Class X	Member	Farmer	Garo	8787788716
4	Prithnath M Marak	M	35	B.A	Member	Farmer	Garo	7005574826
5	Robath S Sangma	M	59	Class III	Member	Farmer	Garo	7628835677
6	Esitha S Sangma	F	46	Class X	Member	Housewife	Garo	9862425418
7	Pretish S Sangma	F	35	Class X	Secretary	Housewife	Garo	7628835052
8	Lucitha S Sangma	F	55	Class X	Member	Housewife	Garo	-
9	Marcilla S Sangma	F	32	Class VII	Member	Housewife	Garo	7628873856

Sl No	Name in Full	Gender M/F	Age (Yrs)	Education	Area of specialisation/ focus (forests, water, soil, accounts, environmental and social safeguards, knowledge management, GIS)	Trained under CLLMP (Yes/ No?) if Yes, date training was received	Contact No and email address
1	Chebath S Sangma	M	22 Yrs	B.A	NRM and GIS	Yes, Environment Safequard, CNRMP (14thJanuary,2020) , Springshed Management (20th to 22nd February, 2020)	9862634570
2	Samaria S Sangma	F	22	12 Pass	Social Management Knowledge Management	No	9366680309
3	Chera S Sangma	F	26	12 Pass	Monitoring and Evaluation	Yes	7628835054

PRA EXERCISE AND CNRM PLAN PREPARATION

On the 29th January 2019, the District team of West Garo Hills conducted PRA exercise for Aminda Simsanggre village under Gambegre Block, West Garo Hills. During the PRA both male and female, village headmen , VNRMCs and Village facilitators participated and seen drawing social and resource map on the ground. Then they were asked to navigate and jot down their natural resources of the village. Also at the same time the necessary information and data were collected. The community were then asked to submit their 5 years proposal.

On the same day there is a verification of the proposed sites for interventions such as community nursery, check dam, spring chamber etc.

Plan Estimate:

The DPMU of WGH made an inspection to the proposed intervention sites soon after the CNRM plan preparation gets over along with the district Team of West Garo Hills District.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

SL NO	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	Amount Sanctioned	Work Status
1.	Community Nursery	Aminda Chiring	₹1,23,000.00	Completed
2.	CC Check Dam	Marong Chiring-2	₹2,39,800	Completed
3.	Trenches	Rongka Chring	₹11900	Completed
4.	Plantation	Bringga	₹1,82,000.00	Completed
5.	18 Days Composting (Hot Composting)	Aminda Chiring	₹33000	Completed
6.	Trenches	Marong Chimk	₹14500	Completed
7.	Trenches	Aminda Bisik	₹13700	Completed
8.	Trenches	Nepal Chiga	₹15500	Completed
9.	Water Storage Tank	Aminda Bisik	₹147000	Completed
10.	PCC Water Conservation Dam with Slab and Outlet	Marong Chiring	₹161000	Completed
11.	Water Conservation Dam	Aminda Bisik	₹192000	Completed
12.	Spring Chamber	Nepal Chiga with Gabion Wall	₹442000	Completed
13.	Spring Chamber	Min chiga	₹235600	Ongoing

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

A VISIT BY SPMU on the 23rd April 2019

On the 23th April 2019, there was a site verification by SPMU team Smt. Persara Thangkhiew(Manager-S.M), Smt. Philarisha Thangkhiew (Manager-M&E), Shri. Robanstar Shabong (Green Volunteer-Water Security Spring Shed), at various proposed intervention sites some of the intervention sites were omitted and suggested for site improvements. The peripheral bund is to construct the Spring Chambers as per the guidelines and opt for Bio Fencing& Trenches.

A visit by Prasari and PSI to Aminda Simsanggre on the 9th March 2020

On the 9th and 10th March 2020, Prasari and PSI team along with Master Trainer Mr Gary Sangma and Miss Wansah Pyrbot, Manager, SPMU visited Aminda Simsanggre Village under Gambegre Block, West Garo Hills and Chengkurigre Villlage under Rerapara Block , South West Garo Hills . The team were accompanied by the district team Miss Dimera Marak, Miss Nimrica Marak and Miss Simchi Norik Sangma.

The purpose of the visit is for the validation /vetting process of CNRM plan and common plan of action and understanding of Springshed Management- water discharge and finding of water catchment area and suggestion to take up various intervention areas.

Visit /Inspection by Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills 25^th August, 2020

The CLLMP team along with the Deputy Commissioner of WGH district visited Aminda Simsanggre Village under Gambegre Block for inspection of Community nursery and CC check dam on the 25th Aug, 2020.

Visits by Sattva on 18^th Feb 2021

On 18th Feb, 2021, Kum Parul Saklani, Sattva visited Aminda Simsanggre Village to have one on one interaction with Kum Pretish Sangma ,VNRMC Secretary and Mr Chebath Sangma , NRM &GIS Village facilitators to understand whether or not if they are facing any challenges accessing PDA.

Field Tour by Master Trainers to Aminda Simsanggre during Training on NRM

A Six Days training programme on NRM was held for Master Trainers on 22^nd till 27^th Feb , 2021 at Bakdil Training Centre , Walbakgre Tura , WGH district . The Training was organised by CLLMP- State Project Management Unit in collaboration with PSI and PRASARI. Whereas the District Project Management Unit of West Garo Hills helped in conducting the training programme successfully.

The said training programme was held for Batch-3 and Batch-4 Master Trainers of Garo Hills Region. As a part of the training, the team visited Aminda Simsanggre Village for spring mapping, study of hydro geological structures of the village etc.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Sl No	Implemented Activities	Name of Site	Work Status
1.	Community Nursery	Aminda Chiring	Completed
2.	CC Check Dam	Marong Chiring (2)	Completed
3.	Water Conservation Dam	Aminda Bisik	Completed
4.	Water storage tank	Aminda Bisik	Completed
5.	Trenches	Rongka Chiring	Completed
6.	PCC Water Conservation Dam with Slab and Outlet	Marong Chiring	Completed
7.	Plantation	Bringga	Completed
8.	Trenches	Aminda Bisik	Completed
9.	Trenches	Nepal Chiga	Completed
10.	Trenches	Marong Chimik	Completed
11.	18 Days Composting (Hot Composting)	Aminda Chiring, Near Nursery	Completed
12.	Spring Chamber with Erosion Control Wall	Nepal Chiga	Completed
13.	Spring Chamber	Min Chiga	Ongoing
14.	RCC check dam	Salak Chiring	Completed
15.	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Adu Gittim-1	Ongoing
16.	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Adu Gittim-2	Completed
17.	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Aminda Gittim	Completed
18.	Permanent Community Nursery (Balance fund)	Boldak Chisam

4. Fund Status

1	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Community Nursery	Aminda Chiring	Elevation 197m N 25.44049 E 090.12990	Rs.1,23,000	Completed

2	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	CC Check Dam	Marong Chiring (2)	Elevation 189m N 25.43966 E 090.13300	Rs.2,39,800	Completed

3	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Water Conservation Dam	Aminda Bisik	Elevation 205m N 25.44183 E 090.12999	Rs.1,92,000	Completed

4	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Water storage tank	Aminda Bisik	Elevation 205m N 25.44183 E 090.12999	Rs.1,47,000	Completed

5	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Trenches	Rongka Chiring	Elevation 189m N 25.44421 E 090.12817	Rs.11,900	Completed

6	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	PCC Water Conservation Dam with Slab and Outlet	Marong Chimik	Elevation 186m N 25.43964 E 090.13315	Rs.1,61,000	Completed

7	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Plantation	Bringga	Elevation 178m N 25.44580 E 090.13157	Rs.1,82,000	Completed

8	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Trenches	Aminda Bisik	Elevation 217m N 25.44185E 090.13046	Rs.13,700	Completed

9	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Trenches	Nepal Chiga	Elevation 104m N 25.45417 E 090.12950	Rs.15,500	Completed

10	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Trenches	Marong Chimik	Elevation 216m N 25.44018E 090.13380	Rs.14,500	Completed

11	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	18 Days Composting (Hot Composting)	Aminda Chiring, Near Nursery	Elevation 197m N 25.44034 E 090.12992	Rs.33,000	Completed

12	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Spring Chamber with Erosion Control Wall	Nepal Chiga	Elevation 52m N 25.45414E 090.12980	Rs.4,42,000	Completed

Before After

13	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Spring Chamber	Min Chiga	Elevation 71m N 25.45060E 090.12997	Rs.2,35,600	On-going

Before After

14	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	RCC Check Dam	Salak Chiring	Elevation 89m N 25.45027 E 090.12864	Rs.3,44,000	Completed

Before After

15	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Adu Gittim-1	Elevation 56m N 25.45137 E 90.13199	Rs.200,000	On-going

Before After

16	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Adu Gittim-2	Elevation 60m N 25.45067 E 90.13436	Rs.150,000	Completed

Before After

17	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Dugout Pond (Additional)	Aminda Gittim	Elevation 185m N 25.44022 E 90.12906	Rs.150,000	Completed

Before After

18	Type Of Intervention	Site Name	GPS Co-ordinates	Amount	Work Status
	Permanent Community Nursery (Balance fund)	Boldak Chisam	Elevation 103m N 25.45106 E 90.12996	Rs.300,000