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Sitharaman backs UNESCO World Heritage bid for Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges
Jul 13, 2025Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has thrown her weight behind Meghalaya’s renewed efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the state’s iconic living root bridges, calling them a global symbol of sustainable living and indigenous innovation.
During her visit to Siej village in the East Khasi Hills on Saturday, Sitharaman lauded the community-led initiative to revive the long-pending UNESCO nomination. She emphasized the importance of recognizing traditional knowledge systems and promoting them on the global stage.
“Global recognition isn’t about boasting; it’s about telling the world that this traditional knowledge existed here first,” she said while addressing villagers. “What you’re doing is not only impactful but also scalable.”
The living root bridges—crafted over generations by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes—are made using the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica (rubber) tree. These structures naturally grow stronger over time and are found primarily on Meghalaya’s southern slopes near the Bangladesh border. They are admired worldwide for their unique blend of human ingenuity and ecological harmony.
Meghalaya had initially submitted a nomination dossier to UNESCO in 2018 under the “cultural landscapes” category. With fresh backing from the Union Government and enhanced community participation, the state is now revitalizing its bid.
During her visit, Sitharaman also held discussions with village elders, traditional leaders, and beneficiaries of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme—a community-based conservation initiative funded by international institutions such as the World Bank, KfW, and the Asian Development Bank.
The interactions highlighted how indigenous ecological practices are being adapted to meet modern sustainability goals, including climate resilience and biodiversity preservation.
Sitharaman’s support is expected to bolster Meghalaya’s campaign for global recognition, while also drawing national attention to the value of India’s living heritage and the communities that safeguard it.
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