FM Sitharaman Praises Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges
New Delhi, July 13 – Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the famous living root bridge in Siej Village, located in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, and praised the local community for protecting nature through sustainable living.
Speaking to village elders and leaders, Sitharaman said the people of Siej have shown the world how traditional knowledge and eco-friendly practices can lead to sustainable mobility without harming nature.
“For over 100 years, you have found ways to cross rivers using living trees without damaging the environment,” she said.
The Finance Minister was in Meghalaya to interact with local communities and beneficiaries of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programme, supported by the World Bank, KFW, and ADB. The program helps preserve ancient ecological customs practiced by indigenous tribes.
Sitharaman said the living root bridges, made by training tree roots to grow across rivers, are an example of nature-based solutions that the world can learn from.
“Your practices are not just effective — they can be copied globally,” she said.
She also supported the community’s efforts to get UNESCO recognition for the bridges.
“Recognition is not to show off, but to show the world that you did it first,” she added.
She praised the village elders who have cared for these bridges for generations and called them true guardians of nature. Their work, she said, matches Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle.
Later, Sitharaman visited Sohbar, a border village in the same district, as part of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP). She stressed that these villages are not the end, but the beginning of India.
“They are the eyes and ears of the country and must be developed first,” she said.
She announced four key development goals for Sohbar:
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Better roads
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Improved digital and mobile connectivity
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TV access
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Reliable electricity supply
She also shared that Phase 2 of the VVP will now cover eastern border regions, including Meghalaya, to ensure they receive full support for growth and connctivity.
