Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi said the Northeast’s food and culture can be solutions to sustainable development goals.
Inaugurating a national seminar on ‘Food and Culture of North East – Solutions to Sustainable Development’ at Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Prof Mukhi underscored that Northeast is a hot spot of plants diversity, cultural, social and linguistic diversities.
He said, “Northeast is an amazing social and cultural ecosystem.”
“Few regions of the world have such a wealth of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity packed into such a rejuvenating area,” he added.
This variety is an inspiration for the region to contribute to sustainable development goals, he further added.
The Governor also said, “Northeast is a home to some of the oldest indigenous communities in the world.”
“It is also our spiritual homeland. Be it Kamakhya in Assam, Buddhist Monastery in Tawang, or Sundari Temple in Tripura and many others, they all contribute to a sacred bond that unites India with Southeast Asia,” he said.
The Governor also added that prosperity is the Northeast’s natural destiny.
Its geographical location makes it the obvious gateway to the vast economies of ASEAN countries.
This is the potential that has to be tapped, he added.
And this is the idea that has inspired State government in executing the sustainable development goals for wiping out poverty and ensuring equities on all spheres, the Governor retorted.
He also said that the process of sustainable development requires fundamental shifts in consumption and production patters.
The essence of sustainable production and consumption lies in doing more and better with less, as he said that the government has been working assiduously to achieve sustainable development using the vast resources of available food and culture.
The entire nation needs to hold hands to end poverty and deprivation, improve health, education, reduce inequality and promote economic growth while conserving natural resources.
To achieve this, promotion of cultural-exchange and dietary-diversification through academic and industry linkages can be helpful, the Governor added.
It may be mentioned that the seminar was conducted in congruence with the ‘Sustainable Development in the Indian Himalayan Region’ project of the Niti Ayog, Government of India.
Objective of the seminar was to identify the challenges, scope and future course of action on how the north-eastern region can benefit and contribute to the journey of meeting sustainable development goals.
The seminar was organized by Vivekananda College in collaboration with Center for North East, Nutrition Society of India-Delhi Chapter and Center for North East Studies and Policy Research- Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.
Prof Dr G S Toteja, additional DG, ICMR, and Prof Anupa Sidhu, Head, department of Home Science, University of Delhi were guests of honour.
Officiating principal of Vivekananda College, Dr Hina Nandrajog and the seminar convenor, Dr Sukhneet Suri along with other dignitaries were also present during the seminar.