TAMANG GREAT SOCIAL WORKER

Ram Kumar Lama - Social Worker and Eco-Tourism pioneer of Doors, West Bengal shares his experience

He is the President and Founder of Yugantar Pariwar NGO based in Kalchini at Doors, President of FOSET, member of Jalpaiguri Zilla Parisad, Lifetime Member of the Art of Living, Member of the Red Cross Society of India, Life Member of the Alipurduar Nature Club.

Published in SIKKIM MAIL (English Daily Newspaper) in association with Sikkim Tamang Youth Society.

"Don't wait something to occur. Start where you are, with what you have , and that will always lead you into something greater". quoted 40 years old, Ram Kumar Lama a social worker and a pioneer of Eco-tourism in the Buxa region in Doors, who was recently in Sikkim to attend the "2nd Sustainable Mountain Development Summit" held at Chintan Bhawan.

Talking to SIKKIM MAIL, Lama said that he never expected that he would be called by State to attend the prestigious summit. He had visited Sikkim many times earlier but this time was the most dirrerent journey shared Lama. To have discussion on Water, Forest Conservation and Livelihood with the delegates coming from 11 hill stations was very important and the summit concluded successfully he added.

Lama highlighted about his NGO Yugantar Pariwar, he said the NGO works in the remotest place in the Doors where there is no accessibility. The NGO having the strength of 60 members has been engaged in the welfare of the people of the place teaching them how to self reliant. Now, the people of the remotest places in Doors are somewhat contended as the NGO has been tirelessly working in providing services to the unreachable. "The spark in their face makes us feel proud" said Lama. The NGO since its inception has been working in its own without the help from the government. Lama said that till date they haven't received any financial aid from the government and department but the locals are helping out.

He also said that NGO has also been helping the Tiger reserves of Doors. Under the Buxa Tiger Reserve (Alipurduar Sub-division, Jalpaiguri District) has about 44 Forest villages and the NGO has been helping the people of the village. The isolated people in the Doors have been getting help from the NGO since 2000. The place is surrounded by the lush green forest having the ethnic tribal villages.

Explaining more Lama said that the NGO also works in the collaboration with the gram panchayat in promoting Eco-tourism and the tribal development. "The NGO in this case has been helping the villagers to learn the basic of Eco-tourism in order to sustain their livelihood" said Lama.

Lama said that they has also conducted "The Doors Heritage Conservation Campaign" on 1st January, 2012 aiming to promote and conserve the cultural, natural and the historical heritage of the place through a planned and innovative community based conservation and developmental model. The campaign was the broad initiative of the community, social groups, private organisations, NGO's and various stakeholders.

He said that they have been stressing on the above in the Buxa area. The NGO following the World Environment Day in 2007 had also build and Eco park commemorating Ajay Lama a martyr who was killed in Drass sector in Kargil. Adding further he said that the NGO along with the Zilla Parishad has been constructing roads, promoting the heritage statistics of the "Tashi Cheokunsuling Gumpa" in Doors.

The NGO also promoting 44 home stays in the Buxa region exampling Eco-tourism in the place. We have tied up with North East Region for the overall development of the place.

Lama lastly said that the NGO will provide jobs to more that 1000 educated unemployed of the region taking them in various activities.