STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Pragjyotish College, Post Graduate Department of Economics, Guwahati, hosted a two-day-long Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)-sponsored National Seminar on “Exploring the Potential of Minor Forest Products for Vikshit Bharat @2047: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for North East India”, in association with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Pragjyotish College, and in collaboration with North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) and Aaranyak on May 16-17, 2025.
The seminar was inaugurated with a welcome address by Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahanta, Principal, Pragjyotish College at Madhu Ojha Memorial Hall. Dr. Nandini Sarma, Vice Principal, Dr. Namita Das, Coordinator, IQAC and other faculty members of the college varsity actively participated for the smooth conduction of the programme.
The seminar was graced by several distinguished dignitaries- the academic collaborator of the seminar Mr. Chandra Kanta Das, Junior Executive Officer, NEDFi, Dr. Alolika Sinha, Sr. Wildlife Biologist, Aaranyak, and the keynote speaker of the session Mr. Dibakar Deb, IFS, Ministry of Forest and Environment.
Out of 125 participants, 30 papers were presented by faculty members and research scholars from various universities and colleges across the country throughout different sessions. The seminar was conducted through five technical sessions, the last one being conducted through online parallel session.
Technical sessions I and II were chaired by Prof. Dr. Lokesh Jain, Department of Rural Management, Gujarat Vidyapith and Prof. Dr. Sunita Tanwar, Head, Department of Management Studies, Central University of Haryana respectively on May 16, 2025. Technical sessions III and IV were chaired by Dr. D. W. Thangkiew, Assistant Professor, North Eastern Hill University, Dr. Ashim Bora, Research Officer, Tribunal Research Institute, Assam respectively and technical session V (online parallel session) was chaired by Prof. Atanu Kumar Choudhury, former Vice Principal, Pragjyotish College on May 17, 2025.
The session on day 1 focused on skill development and capacity-building policies, sustainable development, community-led services and employment through MFPs. Day 2 focused on innovation and technology transfer, market linkage and entrepreneurship with respect to MFPs in the North Eastern Region, followed by the valedictory session addressed by Dr. Sunita Tanwar conveying words of appreciation for choosing an impactful topic for the seminar. The two-day national seminar ended with certificate distribution followed by the vote of thanks addressed by Dr. Ira Das, Head, Department of Economics, Pragjyotish College.
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