Guwahati: Non-governmental organizations working for peace and harmony in northeastern India have decided to channelize their efforts for better impact.
Several of them came together on May 19 at Kasturba Gandhi Ashram in Guwahati to find a common ground by complementing each other and sharing their respective areas of expertise.
The initiative came from the Joint Peace Mission Team (JPMT), an umbrella organization comprising Catholic and Protestant Churches in the region.
At the one-day seminar the NGOs from various parts of the region expressed willingness to work together. They also expressed their desire to combine and share information, resources, statistics and expertise while responding to conflict and disaster situations in the future.
N. Chankakoti, Assam’s former Director General of Police who addressed the gathering, stressed the need to promote good values at home and at school if society wanted to overcome the degradation it is going through. He also shared his experiences and spoke at length on haw collective and combined efforts would bear rich fruits.
Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Jowai, founder director of JPMT, spoke of the emerging tribal societies and their aspirations, and the conflicts arising from each ethnic group asserting itself. While this was natural, people have to learn to respect each other’s rights while trying to uphold their own. He also said that society at large must come forward and support peace and peace efforts. “Only then we can move ahead with respect,” he added.
Speakers representing various organizations and areas also addressed the seminar. They shared their insight about their work and how they would like to complement the joint efforts for Peace.
Dymanti Baido of Kasturba Gandhi Ashram moderated the meeting.
Other NGOs present were Indo German Social Service Society, Churches Auxiliary for Social Action, Action Aid, Bahai, Citizens Forum, Inter Agency Group, YMCA, YWCA, World Vision, Caritas India, North East Diocesan Forum for Social Service and North East India Churches Organization for Relief and Development.