Workshop on Lives, Livelihoods and Environment of Wayanad
PRESS RELEASE
“We are cutting down the branch that we are sitting on, and it won’t be long before we fall.” Mr. K.L. Paulose, the District Panchayat President of Wayanad made the above remark while speaking at a one-day workshop on the Lives, Livelihoods and Environment of Wayanad organized by Public Affairs Centre(PAC), Bangalore and RASTA, Wayanad on 3rd November at the RASTA Training Centre, Kambalakad.
Ms. Omana T.K. in her opening remarks spoke on the contrasting experiences of Wayanad in the 1980’s and the recent times. This workshop is a platform to bring together the interveners, players and the communities in exploring and understanding the linkage between lives, livelihoods and environment of the region.
PAC and RASTA are undertaking a study to understand the link between environment, livelihoods and governance in the Wayanad region. This study primarily aims at understanding the environment vulnerability of the livelihoods in Wayanad and explores the impact of environmental changes on the livelihoods. A better protected and a more cared-for environment would result in more secure livelihoods.
Public Affairs Centre comes with a 15 year history of promoting good governance in India and abroad, with its flagship Citizen Report Card being used on numerous occasions by government agencies to receive citizen feedback to improve the quality of public service delivery. RASTA has been in Wayanad for the last two decades working to protect environment and in particular enabling local institutions conserve and preserve natural resources of the region.
R Suresh, Director of Public Affairs Centre emphasized the need to combine people’s wisdom with technical knowledge to inform the formulation of innovative policies that would directly change people’s lives for the better. In Kerala, and Wayanad in particular, the confluence of informed citizenry, technical experts and powerful people’s organizations increased the chances of locating critical policy reforms that would arrest environmental decline and improve policy processes.
Other speakers during the Inaugural session included Mr. Gafoor, Vice President Panamaram Block Panchayat, Ms. Kunhayisha, President of Kaniyambetta Gram Panchayat, Ms. Girija, Ward Member and other intellectuals and practitioners.