Approximately two-third of India's population (833 million people) resides in rural areas, with one-fourth (216 million people) living below the poverty line with inadequate physical and social infrastructure, and poor access to services, resources and markets. Rural connectivity remains a critical infrastructure need for these people especially during emergencies. This is severely felt in North-East India, one of the most remote, underdeveloped and ecologically sensitive areas of the country. Inhabited by indigenous tribal populations, and characterized by dense tropical rainforests, distinct orography, heavy monsoon rains, and vulnerability to landslides and flash floods, this region is at a threshold of transformation, with the nexus between poverty, population explosion and environmental degradation emerging as a critical threat. Our initiative creates a grass root model to improve, revive and disseminate the use of Ficus elastica and living root bridge technology through a community based rural connectivity, conservation, livelihood and education project in the state of Meghalaya. |