ROING, Jun 2: As part of first ever study abroad programme hosted in Arunachal Pradesh, a team of 15 post graduate students and two faculties from University of South Florida (USF), USA embarked on 15-day tour to RIWATCH, Roing that concluded on May 26 last.
The students were led by Dr Carrion Iraida V and Dr Manisha Joshi, faculties from department of Social Work and Public Health.
The programme was aimed at providing the US students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the indigenous context of Northeast India and offer a learning experience about rich cultural traditions, social structures, health practices, lifestyles, natural resources management and sustainable development
The objective was also to strengthen collaborative engagement in sending equal number of Arunachalee students to USF and other institutes of higher education in USA.
All of them were excited to experience the kind hospitality of the local communities, their festivals, social fabric, value system and above all ethno medicine. One of the student remarked, “Modern world is looking for traditional knowledge of indigenous communities and really here is the living laboratory of traditional knowledge.”
Formal sessions by experts, informal interaction with community elders, women’s group and administrators, agency visits, visit to Mayodiya and Hunli, experience in living in Indian way and travelling in crisscross high altitude thrilling roads were some of the highlights of the programme.
In all, 18 sessions were conducted to fulfill the study objectives. Some of the remarkable sessions were by Sahil Nijhawan, PhD student from University College London –Zoological Society of London on his anthropological study of man and nature relationship. His presentation with slides of rare animals found in Mishmi hills thrilled a packed audience at RIWATCH conference hall.
Significance of cross cultural studies by Dr Lata Dani, retd. principal from Pune College and potential to explore networking with institutes of higher education by Dr Joram Begi, Director of Higher & Technical Education were quite illuminating and informative to them. Participants were moved to experience challenges in taking health services in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh by Dr Ista Pulu, Senior Gynaecologist and Dr M Basar, DRCHO
There were informal interactions too on different subjects that touched ethno-life of the communities here. Interactions were held with DC Shiv Kumar, SP Brijkishor, Asstt Commandant CRPF Suryawanshi on border area administration.
Further, interactions on HIV and substance abuse with Napi Meto and his team, on status of women and family violence with leaders of Enjalu Medna group, on child health with CDPO Nelo Umbrey and on social welfare schemes of govt with Savitri Kamati.