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A leader of the auto rickshaw union, I Vitoshe Sema, sets up a "mini dustbin" on an auto rickshaw, on Wednesday in Dimapur.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, May 22: Next time you board an auto rickshaw in Dimapur town don't be surprised to see a small tin can placed in the auto rickshaw with a 'use me-only dry waste' written on it. Don't be surprised too to see auto rickshaw drivers wearing a badge with "A pledge for a better and cleaner Dimapur" on it.
A local capacity-building nongovernmental organisation the community avenue network (CAN) Youth, took the initiative to install mini dustbin for dry waste in Dimapur auto rickshaws through a programme on Wed. May 22 in the commercial town.
The initiative is a collaborative event with 'Better Dimapur' and the Dimapur District Auto rickshaw Drivers' Union (DDADU), supported by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
The inauguration of the mini dustbin initiative was held at the Tourist lodge in Dimapur. The idea was to discourage people from throwing waste on roads when travelling and to encourage people to use the waste bins that have been made available.
The union's president I Vitoshe Sema said that the drivers are daily wage earners and 'while no facility has been provided for them, whatever has been initiated so far was through the DDADU.'
He thanked the CAN Youth for reaching out to the union in initiating a project that will be beneficial not only for drivers and passengers 'but for a better Dimapur.'
Although there has never been an acknowledgement for auto rickshaw drivers, the union leader said they will continue to 'sacrifice for a better Dimapur.' He urged the CAN Youth to continue assisting the union. The union also assured cooperation.
A member of the group Better Dimapur, Along Aier, acknowledged that such an initiative was required 'because of the condition of garbage in Dimapur which has forced us to invest for such project.'
"This is part of a small initiative to keep the city clean as thousands commute daily and thousands of waste will be where it should be and which will save the city from litter," Aier hoped. He said that the initiative was for the people's survival and environment.
CAN Youth's secretary Kivitoli K Sema taught the drivers how to set up the waste bins.
She said that the organisation initiated the project with the trust that the drivers would lead in keeping the city clean.
'There is no system that would educate the thrash thrower and as a result the dumped waste cause problems. Passengers have the habit of throwing waste in the auto or on the roads but through the available dustbins in the auto rickshaw, drivers will sensitise the passengers to make use of the facility,' she hoped.
Also, CAN Youth's chief functionary Jenpu Rongmei maintained that Dimapur may be the first in the Northeast to initiate such a project. Considering a need to install dustbins in passenger vehicles, Rongmei thanked the union for coming out strongly in support. He said CAN Youth trusts that the auto drivers will contribute to a cleaner Dimapur through their cooperation 'which is why the union was approached first for the project.'
Rongmei was optimistic that the initiative would influence other districts that have auto rickshaws.
He exhorted the drivers to use the facility and encourage their passengers to do the same while reminding them not to be influenced by 'negative criticism' on social media.
As the first phase of the initiative, 20 waste bins were installed in auto rickshaws. The second phase will be held next month, Rongmei informed.
The DMC's office superintendent Ganesh Sharma also urged the auto drivers to dispose the waste in the DMC's dumping site and 'contribute' towards a cleaner Dimapur.
He lauded the initiative as an innovative idea. He told the participants that there was no cost for cleanliness except civic sense.