Guwahati, 19th January: A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently visited the remote Garo tribal village of Bakdo in Agia, Assam. The purpose of the visit was to promote rural tourism and provide financial assistance to the village, which has gained attention for its unique initiatives.
Bakdo, located near Agia Chowk, was once connected by a fragile wooden bridge over the Jinjiram river, which eventually collapsed due to neglect. Despite repeated pleas for a new bridge, the villagers’ requests went unanswered. In response, the villagers constructed a temporary bamboo shed using donations, but it faced annual destruction from hailstorms.
In 2013, village elder Brilliant Marak and local youth Khaibrit Marak noticed that local fish consistently congregated in a specific part of the river, irrespective of weather conditions. They proposed using the funds from selling fish to build a new bridge. This proposal was accepted, leading to the ban on fishing in a 190-meter stretch of the river.
With the support of village head Capster Marak, Claward Sangma, Brazil Sangma, and the Bakdo Youth Union, the village is actively working on promoting rural tourism alongside the fish sanctuary. The tourism cell of Agia College and the district fisheries department are actively assisting in these development efforts.
The youth of Bakdo are working tirelessly to beautify the river’s banks, aiming to attract rural tourists. There are plans to extend the fishing-free area to two kilometers to conserve fish and aquatic animals, as conveyed to the JICA delegation.
The seven-member JICA delegation, along with officials from state and district fisheries development departments, arrived in Bakdo to support rural tourism and the fish sanctuary. They inspected the sanctuary and engaged in discussions with the villagers and the local youth union. The delegation was warmly greeted by the local people in traditional Garo tribe attire.
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