Delegates of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group visit Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
The delegates from several nations visited the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary (Ramsar Site) in Gurgaon district on Saturday after the conclusion of the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting on March 4.
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, spread over an area of about 350 acres in Gurugram, Haryana, is considered to be a major winter centre for migratory birds from Europe, Siberia and Central Asia.
A special exhibition was also organized to give detailed information about the migratory birds to the foreign guests during their visit to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Representatives from various nations and organisations also planted saplings to create a lasting memory of the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting in Gurugram, Haryana. The delegates visited the Bird Century. They observed various species of migratory and local birds through binoculars in the wetland area.
During the visit, the delegates explored the inspiring handicraft works made by the self help group members. The delegates appreciated self-help group’s efforts to create self-employment opportunities for women in order to assist them become financially independent
Dr. MD Sinha, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, welcomed the foreign guests on their arrival at the Bird Sanctuary premises and shared the outline of the event in detail. He apprised the delegates about the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary included in the Ramsar site and the information related to the migratory birds coming here. From the beginning of winter, the arrival of foreign birds begins here. Millions of birds of about 250 species migrate here every year in this major bird century of India.
During this, an exhibition of migratory and local birds was organized by the Forest and Wildlife Department. Foreign delegates got information about different species of birds through the exhibition.
The delegates of the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, while visiting the stall of the Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission, showed special interest in the products prepared by women members of Self Help Groups (SHGs). Dr. Amanpreet Kaur, CEO of Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission, said that by joining self-help groups, women are setting an example of self-reliance by contributing through their work. Women of rural environment are being organized through self-help groups and made economically self-sufficient. Handicraft products made by the women members of self-help groups are being appreciated at both national and international levels.
Through the mission, these products are also being made available on various shopping sites so that people sitting across the globe can buy these products online. The foreign delegates highly appreciated this effort to make women financially independent and also made purchases from the stalls. At the same time, a live demo of pottery preparation was also done to encourage local crafts.
Due to the efforts of the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM). In view of this, delegates were served bajra biscuits, jowar namkeen and ragi chips etc. Millets stall was also set up by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. Deputy Director Agriculture, Dr. Anil Tanwar gave detailed information to the delegates about the importance and nutrients of coarse grains such as millet, ragi, jowar, samak etc. The foreign guests also tasted the products prepared from coarse grains and talked about promoting them in their respective countries.
During this, DoPT’s Additional Secretary, Sh. Rahul Singh, Haryana’s PCCF cum Chief Wild Life Warden, Sh. Pankaj Goyal, MD, Haryana Forest Development Corporation, Sh. Vineet Garg, Gurugram’s DC, Sh. Nishant Kumar Yadav, Gurugram’s CCSF, Sh. Vasvi Tyagi besides other senior officers were present.
