Public Policy Conversation: North-East | Policy and Practice: Conversations from the Northeast
The Public Policy Conversation: North-East webinar series continued with a session on “Policy and Practice: Conversations from the Northeast.”
Northeast India presents a distinct policy landscape shaped by geography, connectivity, culture, governance, ecology, and rapidly evolving socio-economic transitions. While conversations on the region often remain academic or top-down, there is a growing need to engage with practitioners working directly within the realities of implementation, institution-building, and community engagement.
This session brought together practitioners from diverse professional and regional backgrounds to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of working in the Northeast across governance, development, research, technology, livelihoods, and social impact.
The discussion focused on grounded experiences from the field, exploring implementation challenges, institutional realities, and emerging policy priorities across sectors. Moving beyond abstract policy discourse, the conversation created space for practical insights, interdisciplinary dialogue, and more context-sensitive approaches to policymaking in Northeast India.
Watch the live here:
About our Speakers
Avinam Manger – artist-researcher from Gangtok, Sikkim, whose work explores gender, space, and indigenous identity. He is currently part of the Himalayan Fellowship for Creative Practitioners 2026 and has been actively involved in policy dialogues around LGBTQIA+ rights and social inclusion.
Dr. Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman – political scientist and development policy researcher whose work focuses on democracy, ecology, borderlands, and development in the eastern Himalayan region. He currently serves as Programme Coordinator and Research Associate at Heinrich Böll Stiftung India Office.
Anjana Varma – architect and urban planner working as an Associate Consultant at KPMG with the Government of Meghalaya, with experience at the intersection of urban development and public policy.
Pratip Ganguly – works in community development and livelihoods with Sunbird Trust, focusing on youth skilling, agriculture, rural livelihoods, and access to government schemes across Manipur and Assam.
Moderator
Adarsh Ashok – engineer and public policy professional currently working as a Consultant with Grant Thornton Bharat for the Government of Meghalaya. He also serves as Director, Communication & Outreach at the Alumni Association of the Indian School of Public Policy and has previously worked with NITI Aayog and Toyota.