ROHINI NAYYAR PRIZE – AWARDS

News: 40-yr-old who works with farmers in Nagaland wins inaugural Rohini Nayyar prize

 

What's in the news?

       Sethrichem Sangtam, who runs an NGO that works with farmers in eastern Nagaland, has won the first Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development.

 

Rohini Nayyar Prize:

       The Rohini Nayyar prize is awarded to recognize the outstanding contributions of Indians, under the age of 40 years, towards improving the lives of people in rural India.

       The prize has been instituted in memory of Rohini Nayyar, renowned economist who worked with the Planning Commission.

 

Key takeaways:

       Sangtam, who runs the NGO ‘Better Life Foundation’, said that he works with nearly 1,200 farmers in Nagaland’s Tuensang and Kiphire to promote sustainable farming practices and help farmer's transition from slash-and-burn to settled cultivation.

       He helps farmers grow fruit such as kiwi and apple. The NGO also assists farmers with marketing their products, in addition to promoting three cooperative societies of farmers that help with marketing of produce.