North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The society is dedicated towards the transformation of far flung rural areas of North Eastern Region (NER)of India through different livelihood initiatives. The society, so far has covered four states of NER viz. Arunachal Pradesh (Changlang, Tirap andLongdingdistricts), Assam KarbiAnglongand DimaHasaodistricts), Manipur (Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur andChandeldistricts) and Meghalaya (West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts). The society, since 1999, has formed 8,403 SHGs (Self Help Groups) and 2,889 NaRMGs (Natural Resource Management Groups) in 2,532 villages benefiting 1,18,843 households through its project-North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).

The overall objective of the project is to “To improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to preservation and restoration of the environment”.

The society adopted a holistic approach of development with two broad focus areas i.e. (i) social mobilization, organization and capacity building to tap and realize the great latent potential of the communities by employing time tested their traditional value systems and culture, and (ii) Intervene with the economic and social activities and infrastructure with predominant thrust on income generating activities to achieve economic transformation.

The strategy adopted to achieve the goals is:

Waves of transformation in North Eastern Region of India

Phase

Project Villages

Households

NaRMGs

SHGs

NERCORMP - I

860

39161

1012

3168

NERCORMP - II

460

20826

494

1589

NERCORMP - III

1212

58856

1383

3646

Total

2532

118843

2889

8403

Meghalaya and Manipur

Meghalaya

Assam

Manipur

Arunachal Pradesh

thiscomponentwas toprovidecommunitiesaccess tosafedrinkingwaterandimproved sanitation.

Thiswas tobe achievedby constructingdrinkingwaterstoragetanks,pipedsupplyofwaterfromanearby 

spring orstreamandconstructionof lowcosttoilets(LCL)withcommunity participation.

Manipur

Meghalaya

Manipur

Assam

Meghalaya

v) Community-basedBio-diversityConservation & Communication:The specificobjectiveis toprotectandpreserve theuniquenaturalresources andrichbio-diversityoftheregion.Thesub-componentstoachievethis objectivewere:(i)bio-diversity conservationand researchaimed at promotingcommunityconserved areas(CCAs)assacred groves,

protectedcatchmentareasandsanctuaries,(ii)forestrydevelopmenttopromoteand demonstrate environmentally sustainable non-timber forest products (NTFP)and forestry production systems, and

(iii)communication and knowledge management to facilitate information and knowledge sharing on good practicesand production systems betweencommunities.

*******

MG/RNM                                        

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The society is dedicated towards the transformation of far flung rural areas of North Eastern Region (NER)of India through different livelihood initiatives. The society, so far has covered four states of NER viz. Arunachal Pradesh (Changlang, Tirap andLongdingdistricts), Assam KarbiAnglongand DimaHasaodistricts), Manipur (Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur andChandeldistricts) and Meghalaya (West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts). The society, since 1999, has formed 8,403 SHGs (Self Help Groups) and 2,889 NaRMGs (Natural Resource Management Groups) in 2,532 villages benefiting 1,18,843 households through its project-North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).

The overall objective of the project is to “To improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to preservation and restoration of the environment”.

The society adopted a holistic approach of development with two broad focus areas i.e. (i) social mobilization, organization and capacity building to tap and realize the great latent potential of the communities by employing time tested their traditional value systems and culture, and (ii) Intervene with the economic and social activities and infrastructure with predominant thrust on income generating activities to achieve economic transformation.

The strategy adopted to achieve the goals is:

Waves of transformation in North Eastern Region of India

Phase

Project Villages

Households

NaRMGs

SHGs

NERCORMP - I

860

39161

1012

3168

NERCORMP - II

460

20826

494

1589

NERCORMP - III

1212

58856

1383

3646

Total

2532

118843

2889

8403

Meghalaya and Manipur

Meghalaya

Assam

Manipur

Arunachal Pradesh

thiscomponentwas toprovidecommunitiesaccess tosafedrinkingwaterandimproved sanitation.

Thiswas tobe achievedby constructingdrinkingwaterstoragetanks,pipedsupplyofwaterfromanearby 

spring orstreamandconstructionof lowcosttoilets(LCL)withcommunity participation.

Manipur

Meghalaya

Manipur

Assam

Meghalaya

v) Community-basedBio-diversityConservation & Communication:The specificobjectiveis toprotectandpreserve theuniquenaturalresources andrichbio-diversityoftheregion.Thesub-componentstoachievethis objectivewere:(i)bio-diversity conservationand researchaimed at promotingcommunityconserved areas(CCAs)assacred groves,

protectedcatchmentareasandsanctuaries,(ii)forestrydevelopmenttopromoteand demonstrate environmentally sustainable non-timber forest products (NTFP)and forestry production systems, and

(iii)communication and knowledge management to facilitate information and knowledge sharing on good practicesand production systems betweencommunities.

*******

MG/RNM