Community based organizations operate in a situation where they are constantly being targeted with harassment, torture, abuse and other degrading treatment. This has necessitated introduction of the concepts of human rights, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples rights especially the legal human rights standards and redressal avenues and leadership skills for effective organizing and better mobilization among in marginalized groups and the community. The strengthening of the capacity of the women, youth and community leaders will enable them to more effectively influence decision-making processes to empower the traditional role and position of indigenous and tribal community.

The human rights education among Zeliangrong community will contribute in eliminating all forms of discrimination, promoting dignity of women and men and will contribute culture of peace, fundamental freedom and social justice. The programme will empower community leaders to systematically monitor human right violation cases and trainer for further imparting on existing national and international human rights standards and bring state accountable in fulfilling its international human rights obligations.

The project has been designed with two components - capacity building for grass roots leaders and awareness raising and networking as the second component. The training of grass root youth and women organizations with human rights and skills for effective intervention in appropriate mechanisms which shall form the basis of empowering and building up the capacity. A network of organizations will be formed at the training that will reach out to other civil society groups, NGOs, and government services working on related issues in the region, sensitizing them to concerning situations and involving them in developing strategies for advocacy towards promoting human rights education.

The project is intended to strengthen the capacity of the indigenous people by giving awareness to the people, particularly about human rights and human duties, national and international concepts of the rights of the indigenous peoples, their rights over lands and forests, health and education, legal and social justice.

There are more than 200 Indigenous and Tribal communities in India's North Eastern Region, of which 42 are mongoloid stock of Sino-Tibetan Burma Nagas Community.

The project is going to dwell on Indigenous Zeliangrong community of Manipur, one of the major communities of Nagas whose population is about 3, 00,000 scattered in three different states of India - Manipur, Assam and Nagaland, which form a minority and disadvantaged group in each state or district. The community could have played an influential role in the political and administrative spheres had they been placed in one unit or state.

The Zeliangrong community of Manipur concentrate mainly in Manipur districts of Tamenglong, Senapati, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, and Jiribam and then in Cachar district, North Cachar Hills in the state of Assam and Zalukie valley, Peren, Dimapur and Kohima districts in Nagaland though they inhabit in compact and contiguous territory which lies between 930 E longitude and 250 N and 240 N longitude approximately. The total area of the Zeliangrong inhabited land is more than 12,000 SQ. Kms. comprising with vast untapped natural resources.

Village Authority Council, decision making body of the community, is represented by men only from their respective clans. However, women play the crucial role in critical situation especially in the case there is possibility of bloodshed due to a dispute between two parties.

Our focus will be on women and youth grass root workers to train as trainer to continue the process of capacity building based on human rights principles. Women and youth constitute a major population within the community. Empowering and building capacity of women and youth will make a positive impact for protection, promotion and fulfilment of community rights, strengthening the process of sustainable development with the wise use of community resources.

Short term goals

-- Organizing one 2-day seminar for Zeliangrong Intellectual, community, church leaders, student, youth and women leaders from three states viz, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland so as to assess the ground reality of the Rongmei Naga.

-- Organizing two 2-day training cum awareness workshop for 30 community, church leaders, student, youth and women leaders one at Manipur and other at Nagaland with Assam

-- To orient the participants on basic concept and fundamental principles of human rights, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples according to Indian law and international standards

-- To strengthen community members for taking an active part in the welfare and development of their communities through rights based approach.

-- To make a positive impact in the field of protection and promotion of community rights and empowerment as well as strengthening the status for welfare and sustainable development with the wise use of community resources.

-- To discuss the existing situation and concerns of human rights of indigenous peoples with some focus on those of the Zeliangrong community and conjunct regions, to assess the efficacy and appropriateness of current standards, domestic and international, to indicate and explore evident gaps and to strategize directions and approaches to remedies

Long term goals:

-- To prepare leaders and individuals committed to the building of Human Rights and sustainable peace environment and social justice.

-- To develop project with insights of human rights concepts within the broader social, economic and cultural environment within which a comprehensive view of human rights and peace education is imparted.

The current members include:

1. Ms. Aram Pamei, M.Th,

- A social activist and Human Rights Defender for the last 30 years

- Participated at various workshops/seminars at regional, national and international levels on various issues.

- Resource at various seminars/workshops as resource talker, trainer, etc.

2. Ms. Gainiliu Kamei, D. Th. (New Testament)

- Ten years teaching experience and as a trainer on women liberation

- Women rights defender

3. Mr. Celab, MA (English)

- Five years experience as Communication Officer, World Vision of India

4. Mr. Jimmy Pamei, MA (Sociology)

- Community worker

- Computer Operator

5. Ms. Achungmei, MA (Mass Communication)

- News correspondence particularly from community based information to the All India Radio, Imphal a state control media agency

- Trained video documentator

- Women Rights Defenders

6. Mr. Namdithiu, LL. B

- Advocate and human rights defender

- Trained Documentator

7. Mr. Dinrei, MA (History)

- 10 years experience in community work

- Grass root workers

8. Dr. Chambo

- Medicine practitioner and community health worker

- Human Rights defender

9. Mr. Kinderson Pamei, MA (Mathematic)

- Executive Secretary, MIP Foundation

- Six years working experience in Human Rights issues

- Attended many National, Regional and International Human Rights trainings and Orientation programs

- Conducted many basic and fundamental human rights awareness programs

- 5 years experience in community based campaign for collective and indigenous peoples'rights over land and natural resources.

- Involved in national organizing and framing of national policy on Tribals, police reform, etc.

- Investigated many cases of Human Rights violation under state repressive regime.

- Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Tamenglong constituted under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006

10. Mr. J. Yumnam, Asian Indigenous Youth Forum, shall be requested to involve in this project

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to our community and gain experience, and also fosters personal growth. MIP Foundation has a policy of implementing its project with the help of volunteers who form most important resource. MIP Foundation in association with voluntary community apex bodies like Zeliangrong Student Union, Manipur, Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (Tml Cell), Zeliangrong Women Union, Rongmei Luh Phuam, and Zeliangrong Union (Zeliangrong Community Apex Body) is able to actively engage in this program.

The student volunteers with innovational and highly motivational approach to our community members will make a difference.

We prefer three or four students who have basis concepts and fundamental principles of human rights plus computer knowledge. They should be willing to travel to remote village on foot with adjustable food habit.

Specific time frame along with role for student volunteers:

Month:1 Activities: 1 Tasks: 1 Expected

1 1 1 Outcome

______1__________________1______________1________________

1st 1 Communication 1 Telephone, 1 Prepared Prog

1 with MIPF 1 Email corresp1 ready 4 Manipur

______1__________________1______________1________________

2nd 1 Documentation 1 Interview, 1 First hand Info

1 1 interaction, 1 on Socio-econo,

1 1 material col-1 cultural, poli-

1 1 lection & 1 tical situation

1 1 cases of vio-1 of ZLR, Rongmei

1 1 lation 1

______1__________________1______________1________________

3rd 1 Training manual 1 Analysing, 1 1st draft of

1 preparation 1 orgd info 1 training manual

1 1 and documents1 prepared

______1__________________1______________1________________

4th 1 Conti. Manual 1 Designing, 1 Manual Ready

1 preparation 1 finalising 1

1 1 printing 1

______1__________________1______________1________________

5th 1 Orgd training 1 Travel,assist1 Trained commu-

1 workshop based on1 facilitators 1 nity,women,

1 manual 1 organisers 1youth leaders

______1__________________1______________1_______________

6th 1 Report writing 1 Sharing 1 Project impli-

1 & evaluation 1 experiences 1 implimented

1Follow up meeting 1 1

______1__________________1______________1________________

Initially, there may be slight adjustment and familiar with the language. However, this can be overcome as some the village folk do understand and speak English besides local languages including Rongmei/Zemei/Liangmei and Meiteilon.

Budget: