Noted environmentalist Purnima Devi Barman at a yarn distribution ceremony at Deepor Beel on Sunday donated the prize money of Rs 1 lakh to women of Dadara in Kamrup. She requested the women to weave the stork motifs on gamosas and present it to their near and dear ones for Bihu.

Barman won the Nari Shakti Purashkar along with the prize money of Rs 1 lakh, the highest civilian award for women in the country recently. She is also known as the hargila baideu (stork sister).

The women received 300kg of yarn for their handloom initiative for the upcoming Rongali Bihu at the event.

“Conservation of greater adjutant storks is possible only with community support. In Dadara, the success rate is very high because people have started treating hargilas as their family members. Along with safeguarding the birds, our aim is also to empower women. When there will be better livelihood and prosperity in the villages, the greater adjutant stork habitats will get more protection as no trees used for nesting will be felled,” Barman said.

“I also request the women to weave the stork motifs on gamosas for this Rongali Bihu and gift the gamosas to their near and dear ones besides selling,” she said at the event.

According to her, women should be included in conservation efforts because without their involvement, no conservation policy will be successful.

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