Guwahati: Purnima Devi Barman, better known as " hargila baideu (stork sister)", has requested women to weave motifs of greater adjutant storks, also known as hargilas, on gamosas on Rongali Bihu and gift those to their near and dear ones besides making profits by selling.

Participating in an event at Deepor Beelon Sunday, Barman - who was recently conferred with the Nari Shakti Purashkar, the highest civilian award for women in country - donated prize money of Rs 1 lakh to women of Dadara in Kamrup.

They received 300kg yarn for their handloom initiative for the upcoming Rongali Bihu.

"Conservation of greater adjutant storks is possible only with community support. In Dadara, the success rate is very high because the people have started treating hargilas as their family members. Along with safeguarding the birds, our aim is also to empower women. When there will be better livelihood and prosperity in the villages, the greater adjutant stork habitats will get more protection as no trees used for nesting will be felled," Barman said.

According to her, women should be included in conservation efforts and without their involvement, no conservation policy is successful.

"Women can protect wildlife thorough their multiple roles such as mothers, teachers, sisters, daughters, daughters in-law among others. Unfortunately, women are always left behind in our places, specially in the rural areas. We are empowering them by taking livelihood and biodiversity classes besides making them 'army of the bird,' " Barman said.

"I also request the women to weave the stork motifs on gamosas for this Rongali Bihu and gift those to their near and dear ones besides selling," she said in the programme.

Earlier, she had won the prestigious Whitley Award, also known as Green Oscar, for nature conservation.