National Service Scheme special camp conducted at Saraipung Forest Village

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: The National Service Scheme (NSS) Digboi College Unit, popularly called as Rashtriya Hewa Asoni in Assam, conducted the third phase of NSS special camp at Saraipung Forest Village during the semester break of the college. Saraipung Forest Village area lies beside the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 23 km away from Digboi with 86 households. This area is known for some of the world’s rare flora and fauna species and is also home to the White Winged Wood Duck, the State bird of Assam.

With a team of 26 NSS volunteers, the camp was conducted under the guidance of Rajib Rudra Tariang, programme officer, and Dr. Kishor Haloi, both Assistant Professors in the Department of Zoology of Digboi College. The six-day camp concluded on December 31. The programme schedule included screening of movie, school education programme of veterinary camp, women health and hygiene, a model presentation on solar rooftop system, nature tracking along the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary with support from Digboi Forest Division, a drama on Swachhata scripted by Deep Borah, Lab Assistant of Zoology department, and mushroom cultivation techniques.

The camp was inaugurated by Sanjumoni Bhumij, local gaon buri of Saraipung Forest Village. The resource persons were Rubul Tanti, Wildlife Biologist of Aaranyak and Dr Marzina Khatoon, Veterinary Officer, Digboi, besides others.

The NSS team of the college, while conducting a survey on government-funded schemes, observed that many villagers still practised open defecation and toilet facilities were not provided to many households. Also, under IAY, houses were half built for more than five years. Expressing concern at the state of affairs the NSS unit decided to take up the matter with the Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner, informed Rajib Rudra Tariang. The NSS team also thanked the Digboi Forest Division for providing lodging facility and IOCL (AOD), Digboi for providing free transportation for the NSS team.

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