The Center for Community Development through Network, Education, Research, Training, Resource Mobilisation, and Capacity Building (Cod Nerc) and the Impulse NGO Network, Shillong, held an impact assessment meeting on Wednesday to evaluate refugee support initiatives in Mizoram.C. Lalmuanthanga, State Team Leader of Impulse NGO Network and Chairman of Cod Nerc, highlighted key initiatives from 2023. These included six months of rations for 500 refugee families and the donation of 100 hospital beds and medical equipment to the Champhai district’s Chief Medical Officer.
Additionally, the organizations launched an agroforestry program, involving 241 families cultivating crops on 317.5 acres. Short-term crops were grown by 190 families, while 38 focused on oranges and 13 on apples. Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, B. Lalchhanzova, stressed the importance of collaboration between NGOs and the Mizoram Government. “Working together in a spirit of cooperation ensures better support for those in need,” he said, commending the meeting’s role in fostering effective assistance.
Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, Chairman of Impulse NGO Network, praised the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments for their contributions and suggested replicating Mizoram’s NGO-government model in Sikkim. As part of the event, Lalchhanzova launched a promotional video for Tribeland Coffee, an initiative by Impulse NGO Network in collaboration with META, aimed at empowering local communities through sustainable livelihoods.
