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Dr Manazir Jeelani Samoon donating sewing machines and fabrics for cloth bag-making at Lotha Eloe Hoho Ki, Wokha on June 1.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 3 (EMN): To view of the Nagaland government’s policy to ban single-use plastic in the state considering its ill-effects on human health and environment, the District Administration Wokha has come up with a mechanism to replace plastic bags.
The District Administration Wokha in collaboration with Lotha Eloe Hoho donated seven sewing machines and other materials to the community members as a one-time assistance for cloth bag-making on June 1, informed an update from DIPR. Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Dr Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS inaugurated the facility during a function held at Lotha Eloe Hoho Ki.
The cloth bag-making centre was initiated as an alternative livelihood and an attempt to support government’s policy to restrict the use of plastic.
While describing the centre as a welcoming step, the DC said that it is a small contribution from District Administration and Wokha Town Council to help some people get employment and earn a livelihood as well as help eradicate plastic bags.
Saying that the centre was initiated for a long-term solution, Samoon urged the members to think of generating revenue from it to “make it more sustainable” and appealed to the civil societies to spread awareness about the use of cloth bags.
He stated that “Wokha town has a long way to go when it comes to cleanliness, restricting the use of plastic bags and improvement of basic infrastructure” and urged the people to take cleanliness very seriously and make it a habit to keep the town clean like they do to their homes. He also appealed to the public “to contribute in whatever small ways to make our town cleaner and beautiful.”
Advisor of Lotha Eloe Hoho, Orenponi Ezung thanked the district administration and Wokha Town Council for the help extended to uplift the women community.
ADC & Administrator of Wokha Town Council spoke about the government’s policy of restricting the use of plastic bags and urged the public to extend co-operation towards the initiative. SDO (C), Wokha, Chonbenthung Ezung said that banning of plastic is an opportunity for the people to earn as paper bags and cloth bags will be in demand.
In a gesture to encourage the noble initiative, the District Forest Officer, Wokha ordered 5000 (five thousand) bio-degradable nursery bags from the newly started centre.
DIPR declared plastic and tobacco-free zone
The Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Nagaland, Kohima has been declared plastic-free and tobacco-free zone. The Director, IPR and all the employees voluntarily decided to ban single-use plastic in the office premises and declared it as tobacco-free zone at an event held at the DIPR Conference hall on June 3.
Aquaguard water purifiers have been installed in all the floors of the office building to encourage the employees to bring their own water bottles. The staff of the directorate also decided not to bring and use plastic bags in the office.
The visitors have requested to cooperate with the new initiative of the DIPR staff.
In a separate event, Wokha DC Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon inaugurated a tailoring centre at Police Point, Wokha, on June 1 to help create self-employment opportunities for girls and women.
According to an update from DIPR, the DC said during the inaugural function that many women will get livelihood opportunity from such initiatives. He expressed confidence that it ‘will become a sustainable centre and whatever income is generated out of it, some amount can be invested in purchasing more raw materials for the expansion of the tailoring centre.’
He also informed that the District Administration will pay the house rent for six months as a token of support for the centre.