Sethrichem Sangtam, a forty-year-old working towards the development of farmers in the eastern part of Nagaland has received the first Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development. The award consists of a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10 Lakh.
Sethrichem Sangtam runs an NGO by the name of ‘Better Life Foundation’. It has worked with nearly 1200 rural farmers belonging to the Tuensang and Kiphire regions of the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. It aims at the promotion of sustainable farming practices to replace traditional ones. It also helps the farmers to grow more cash-oriented crops like kiwi and apples. The organisation also helps the farmers to advertise and sell their products alongside supporting three cooperative societies towards this direction.
The Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development is presented in the memory of Rohini Nayyar by the Nayyar Foundation for Social and Economic Purpose. She was a renowned economist who worked with the Planning Commission of India as an IAS officer and passed away last year.