Governance: Sethrichem Sangtam: Rural Development

Context: Sethrichem Sangtam, who helped triple the incomes of 1,200 marginalised
farmers in Eastern Nagaland, was awarded the first Rohini Nayyar prize for
outstanding contribution to rural development.
Initiatives taken:

 His organisation ‘Better Life Foundation’ focuses on rural livelihood

security, environmental sustainability and education for change
 He encouraged farmers in the region to abandon wasteful slash, burn
cultivation and move to permanent farming
 He aided the farmers in marketing their products
and promoting cooperative societies for this purpose.
 Begun training young boys and girls in folk dance to divert their attention
from the rampant hunting that plagues the locality.

Previously, he had left his life in New York to come back to his hometown in Nagaland
and set up an NGO.
About the Prize: The prize is given out annually to an individual 40 years or under age,
by the Nayyar Foundation for Social and Economic Purpose, set up to contribute to the
social and economic development in India.
Dr Rohini Nayyar, an eminent scholar-administrator, economist and former adviser at
the Planning commission, spent much of her professional life working on issues related to
rural development in India. She passed away in October 2021.