Biodiversity

Midas Touch

Herbal Extraction

Midas Touch

Medicinal & Aromatic

Midas Touch
About Us
Midas Touch is an Environmental Conservation Organization which was established in 2009, headquartered in Imphal, Manipur. We work in partnership with community towards sustainability challenges by empowering people to live a respectable, sustainable life, using nature’s assets, while also protecting them.

We are built on a strong foundation of science and partnership, empowering individuals and communities to be self-reliant, while caring for nature, biodiversity, and working for the overall well-being of humanity and the planet. Scientific intervention for societal impact also plays a key role in our organization.

Self-reliance is at the core of Midas Touch
Our Causes

Popular Causes

Midas Touch Manipur Projects

Indigenous and traditional knowledge

We work on areas to strengthen traditional knowledge and culture, including ethno-education programs in villages which are still predominant with Traditional Healers. We help restore and support the relationship between elders and apprentices to insure the continuance of knowledge and also we are in the process of creating database

Endangered Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

North-East India is a treasure house of vast variety of plant resources being a part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The region falls in biogeographic tri-junction of the Indian, Himalaya and Oriental landmass. Exploitation of floras and faunas due to its commercial medicinal properties are immense in today’s world, the species are facing the onslaught of indiscriminate over-exploitation.

Preservation of Manipur Traditional Dolls & Thongjao Pottery

Thongjao pottery is considered to be one of the ancient pottery makers in Manipur . Midas Touch is trying to work with the artisans in order to assist in sustainable livelihood and also bring about certain aspects of innovation.




What We Do?

Working towards sustainability

We are nonprofit, non governmental organisation working towards environmental conservation and community development

Plantation
Natural Hub

Consultancy
Awareness Program

Grass Roots Innovation & Technology

Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge

Our Mission

To conserve, restore and protect our biodiversity in order to make Earth a better place to live and to help transform the economy to build a sustainable future for people and the planet, while focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our Vision

Building a future where everyone lives a happy, secured and dignified life, in a world that is Greener, and where all plant and animal life flourishes For us, Sustainability is the bottom line.

How Can You Help?

Join us in sustaining lives and nature
Meet Our Team

Our Team

Midas Touch

Rajkumar Tomba

Senior Director

Dr Bachaspatimayum Debkumari

Founder & Executive Director

B. Debachandra Sharma

Secretary, Co-founder
Events

Our Events

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Latest Article

03 Oct

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SANGAI, HOG DEER AND WILD BOAR

Sangai (Rucervus eldi eldi) is lovingly called Jagoisabi (dancing deer) by the locals. The only isolated population of Sangai resides in the Keibul Lamjao National Park, covering an area of 40 sq. km. The state Government of Manipur declared Keibul Lamjao as a National Park on 28-03-1977 for the protection of its flagship species Sangai under the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Keibul Lamjao lies on the southern part of the Loktak lake (Ramsar site) which constitutes a continuous mass of phumdi occupying an area of around 26sq.km. Phumdi or floating meadow is the natural habitat of Sangai. It is a floating mass of entangled vegetation which has formed as a result of degradation and accumulation of organic debris biomass with soil particles concentrated in solid form. Sangai co-exist with wild boar and hog deer. They form harmony in the park maintaining a mutualistic relationship. The interdependence between the biotic components in an environment is very fascinating. It balances out the food web and helps in sustaining the ecosystem. Sangai is listed as endangered by the IUCN and their survival and sustenance is a big question mark if proper conservation measures are not taken up. In the past years, there is less knowledge about the relationship between Sangai and other faunal diversity. The understanding of the association of the Sangai with floral and faunal diversity is very important. By doing so the possible threat and benefits can be identified and a solution can be provided.  For the effective conservation of Sangai the conservation and management of the associative faunal and floral diversity are highly required.

The park is flourished with varieties of floral and faunal vegetation. Flora includes mainly wetland vegetation as the park is covered chiefly with phumdi. Sangai, hog deer, and wild boar are remarkable and dominant faunal diversity of the park.  The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) is a small species of deer measuring 70 cm to the shoulder and weighing about 50 kg. It gets its name from the hog-like manner in which it runs, with its head hung low so that it can duck under obstacles instead of leaping over them like most other deer. The population of Sangai and hog deer is almost similar. Sangai and hog deer feed almost on the same plants but there is negligible competition for food and space as there is plenty of forage and space for them to reside. The population of wild boar is about 2500, it is the most populated animal species in the park. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) or wild pig is bristly-haired, grizzled, and blackish or brown in color and stands up to 90 cm (35 inches) tall at the shoulder. Except for old males, which are solitary, wild boars live in groups. The animals are swift, nocturnal, and omnivorous and are good swimmers. They possess sharp tusks, and, although they are normally unaggressive, they can be dangerous. Wild boar feeds on grasses and it also feeds on the snakes that reside in the park which is a threat to the other animals like Sangai and hog deer. The wild boar occasionally feeds on the young and newborn Sangai, few cases reported. Wild boar plays an important role in the reproduction of Sangai, the wild boar builds its roosting ground using dried grass and gave birth and after this, the Sangai and the hog deer will use the roosting space built by the wild boar to deliver their babies. The roosting place will give protection to the newborn deer from climate and predators. The deer depend upon the wild boar for the reproduction of their offspring, which is a very important factor in increasing the population. It is believed that the number of animals in the park is maintained by nature’s cycle like disease outbreaks and never exceeds the carrying capacity.

 

As the Sangai is endemic to the Keibul Lamjao National Park the establishment of a population in a new area will be helpful to combat disease outbreaks or any unwanted disasters. This will prevent loss of the entire population. To establish a new habitat outside the park understanding the relationship between the animals is crucial. The scientific data regarding the relationship between the Sangai and its associated faunal diversity is very limited. There is an urgent need for research and analysis of the relationship between the organisms for the strategic conservation of endangered species.

 In order to protect and conserve Sangai its associated species and habitat, documentation and research in various forms have become a critical need of the hour. Scientific research and analysis of the collected data can be of great help in the conservation of the species and its habitat. Public awareness and education are also necessary. Informal writing like blogging or the utilization of social media platforms to connect with the present generation is the key to bringing awareness about the need to understand the relationship between the animals and protect and conserve Sangai from various threats.

References:

1.  Conservation ecology of Sangai and its habitat, WII

2.      Singh, M., & Khare, N. (2018). Distribution, status and conservation of Sangai deer (Rucervus eldii eldii) in Manipur, India. Journal of Entomology and   Zoology Studies, 6(5), 732-737.

3.  Conservation of Sangai, a success story. Forest Department of Manipur

4.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangai

5. https://www.pairidaiza.eu/en/activities/hog-deer

6. https://www.britannica.com/animal/boar-mammal

 

(Contributor: Leenthoi Laishram has completed MSc. Forestry at North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), she is currently under Midas Touch Pro Bono Mentorship Program; she can be reached at leenthoilaishram@gmail.com)


13 Aug

Towards Zero Waste Manipur - Critical Need of the hour






https://epaper.thesangaiexpress.com/index.php?edition=Mpage&date=2022-08-13&page=4

20 Sep

Plants used by the Meitei community in religious purposes


PLANTS USED BY THE MEITEI COMMUNITY IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

 

Humans have been dependent on plants since time immemorial for various purposes. Be it foods, carbon sequestration, oxygen, and many plant-based products. The use and cultivation of various plants have been passed down from generation to generation. Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants.

The Meitei people are an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in North-Eastern India. The Meitei primarily settled in the Imphal valley region in modern-day Manipur although a sizable population have settled, in Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, with a notable presence in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents around 53% of the population of Manipur state, followed by various Naga tribes at 24% and various Kuki-Zo tribes at 16%. The Meitei community practices mainly two religions Hinduism and Sanamahism (some practices Christianity).

 An ethnobotanical field survey was carried out among the Meitei communities residing at Imphal West district, Manipur. Initially, a formal request were made to the respective individuals introducing ourselves and explaining the purpose of our visit to them. Thereafter, interviews was conducted individually .They  were elders and senior citizens who are knowledgeable in ethnobotany.  We were able to collect information on about 20 plants species that are used in the rituals of the Meitei community that practices Sanamahism.

LOCAL NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL

PART USED FOR RLIGIOUS PURPOSE

RITUALISTIC USES

Tingthou

Cynodon dactylon

Maibam Phireppa Meitei

Shoot

Used in rituals

Pungphai

Dactyloctenium aegyptcum

Maibam Phireppa Meitei

Young shoot

Used in rituals

Tairen

Cedrela toona

Maibam Phireppa Meitei

Small branches

Used in rituals and t repel evil from household by local maiba and maibi

Kundo

Jasminum  multiflorum

Laishram Bimolata

Flower

Used as a garland in marriage

Khoiju

Plectranthus ternifolius

Laishram Bimolata

Dried leaves

Repels evil spirits every household of the Meitei community smoked the house during lamtathangja

 (Saturday of may)

Leikham

Goniothalamus sesquipedalis

Laishram Bimolata

Dried leaves

Repels evil spirits

Leishang

Huperzia squarrosa

Maibam Phireppa Meitei

Stem

Used commonly in rituals for the new born child and marriage etc.

Kusumlei

Carthamus tinctorius

Latasana Devi

Flower

As an offering to God at chei-raoba festival

Kombirei

Iris laevigata

Latasana Devi

Flower

As an offering to God at chei-raoba festival

Leiri

Symplocos paniculata

Latasana Devi

Inflorescence

As an offering to God at chei-raoba festival

Mayokpha

Terminalia arjuna

Latasana Devi

plant

Believed to be the incarnation of Ibudhou Pakhangba , a diety of the Meitei community

Sana khongnang

Ficus religiosa

Laishram Bimolata

Plant

Meitei community believes that the soul of forefathers resides above the top of the tree  

Uchan

Pinus kesiya

Chingangbam Loyangambameitei

Wood

Used commonly in rituals

Chouhi

Casia fistula

Elangbam Manileima

Flower

As an offering to Umanglai

Chu angouba

Saccharum officinarum

Elangbam Manileima

Stem

Used commonly in rituals

Langthrei

Eupatorium birmanicum

Laishram Bimolata

Young shoot

Used commonly in rituals

Kwamana

Piper betle

Elangbam Manileima

Leaf

Used commonly in rituals

Kwamaru

Areca catechu

Elangbam Manileima

Fruit

Used commonly in rituals

Kuraoangouba

Erythrina suberosa

Laishram Bimolata

Wood

Used in rituals, barks taken in Saturday are used in talisman prepared by the priest(maiba and maibi) for protection against ghost and evil spirits

Mekruk

Canarium resiniferum

Chingangbam Loyangambameitei

Resin

The resins are bunt above the charcoal during rituals

 

 

 Most of the plants that are used in the rituals are found to possess medicinal properties. The community developed a different  procedures to protect the knowledge of important indigenous plants which are interlinked directly with their life activities. They develop different cultural activities such as religion, ceremony, ritual, and festivals to mark the importance of the plants. Some of the remarkable festivals are Lai-Haraoba, Sajibu chei-raoba, etc. Through the festivals and rituals, the importance of the plants is enhanced and familiarize to the coming generation. The traditional beliefs and the taboos help sin conserving the sacred plants up to some extent from the increasing urbanization.

 In order to protect and preserve our traditional knowledge, documentation in various forms have become a critical need of the hour. May it be informal writing like blogging, utilizing social media platforms to connect with the present generation and passing on authentic traditional knowledge is key to bringing awareness about the need to conserve our indigenous knowledge.

(Contributor: Leenthoi Laishram is presently pursuing MSc. Forestry at North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Arunachal Pradesh; she is currently under Midas Touch Pro Bono Mentorship Program; she can be reached at leenthoilaishram@gmail.com)