Shillong, July 12: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, ton Saturday visited the iconic living root bridge at Siej Village in East Khasi Hills District. The minister interacted with village elders, local leaders, and beneficiaries of the Payment for Ecosystem Services programme, an initiative supported by the World Bank, KFW, and ADB, to understand how indigenous communities are preserving and innovating age-old ecological practices.
During her address to the village community, Sitharaman expressed deep appreciation for the traditional knowledge systems that have been preserved over generations in Meghalaya.
“I thank the entire village community for having upheld the spirit of living in this dense green environment. For over a hundred years, you have maintained a culture that respects nature and fosters sustainable mobility – even finding ways to connect across rivers without violating the living trees,” she said.
Highlighting the uniqueness of the living root bridges, she stated, “At a time when the world is searching for sustainable solutions, the people of Siej have shown what is possible through simple, nature-aligned practices. You have found a way to survive, move, and grow without harming your surroundings. It’s extraordinary how local indigenous solutions can serve as global examples.”
Sitharaman also acknowledged the ongoing community-led efforts to document and seek UNESCO heritage status for the living root bridges.
“Recognition is not for showing off, but for showing the world that you did it first. Your practices are not only effective—they’re replicable.global recognition will help inspire others.”
She applauded the intergenerational commitment to this eco-cultural legacy and shared her admiration for the village elders who have sustained the practice across decades.
“This is a classic example of living with nature and doing the maximum. I feel truly blessed to meet this community, particularly the elder who has been nurturing this living bridge. The symbolic gesture of adding nutrition to the roots was not just personal—it was inspirational.”
The finance minister also reflected on how the community’s deep-rooted harmony with nature powerfully embodies the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has consistently championed an environmentally conscious way of life. “The Prime Minister has often urged us to adopt a lifestyle that is in harmony with the environment. The living root bridges of Meghalaya are living proof that such a vision is already being realised by our indigenous people,” she said.
The visit underlined the Government of India’s commitment to supporting nature-based solutions, community-led conservation, and recognition of India’s traditional ecological knowledge on global platforms.
Border boost
She also visited Sohbar – a scenic and strategically located border village in East Khasi Hills district – underscoring the Central Government’s focus on border area development under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).
Addressing a gathering that included local residents, school and college students, and officials, the Union Minister emphasized that border villages like Sohbar are not the last, but the first point of contact for those entering India. “It is an honour to be in Sohbar today. I chose this location because the Prime Minister believes that border villages are not the end of India, but its beginning. These are the eyes and ears of our nation, and they deserve priority development,” she said.
Sitharaman noted that the second edition of the Vibrant Villages Programme is now expanding its reach to the eastern border regions, including Meghalaya. She outlined four key development themes for VVP in Sohbar – Road infrastructure, Connectivity (telecom and digital), Television coverage and Electricity access.
