Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a priority set by women Self-help Groups (SHGs) members of Kha-Sanjenbam village, a hamlet located ideally along the flow of the Waishel Maril stream within Nambol Assembly Constituency in Bishnupur District.
Members of four women SHGs in the village had embarked on an ambitious program of taking up the challenge of clearing invasive weeds from the stream to maintain healthy environment for the water body while seeking to achieve sustainable livelihoods through aquaculture.
Kha-Sanjenbam SHGs observe WED 2026
Kha-Sanjenbam SHGs organized an interactive session on Sunday as part of the global World Environment Day 2026 observation on the UNEP’s theme “Together for Climate Resilience”. The women SHGs members discussed at length on strategies to harness the resources of the Waishel Maril stream to achieve SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG13 (Climate Action).
Shared responsibility for stream health
Speaking on the occasion, Kha-Sanjenbam SHG leader Samom Joypati Devi noted that every person in the village had responsibility in maintaining the clean and healthy status of the Waishel Maril which provides water for their domestic needs while being a good source for food needs.The Waishel Maril stream is also an important water source within the Loktak wetland complex, she said.
Climate-resilience focus
Taking part in the observation, People Resources Development Association’s field coordinator Soibam Boby Devi expressed satisfaction in the activity of the Kha-Sanjenbam women SHG members towards management and conservation of the Waishel Maril stream.
Sharing the thought that sustained water conservation of the stream can lead to sustainable livelihoods for the villagers on the one hand while achieving goals under the Sustainable Development Goals, Boby Devi confided that the Kha-Sanjenbam women SHGs’ initiative was the need of the hour towards climate change adaptation strategies at the grassroots.
Grassroots water conservation
Grassroots activity led by women aiming at water conservation to achieve different benefits including water needs for domestic use, agriculture and fisheries while addressing climate concerns is worth appreciation from all corners, observed climate journalist Salam Rajesh on the occasion.
Across the globe, there are many emerging stories of women leading ground-rooted activities in watershed conservation, forest regeneration, mangrove restoration and protection of grasslands and the wildlife, he noted.
The initiative undertaken by the Kha-Sanjenbam women SHG members seeks in achieving ecosystem services through the long-term conservation of the Waishel Maril stream, and is an activity seldom seen in the State, he observed.
Plantation for renewed greenery
The day’s activity culminated with plantation of fruit-bearing tree saplings along the banks of Waishel Maril stream to add greenery within the village environs and as part of the local effort in climate change adaptation at the grassroots.