Eye-catching reminder: This is how Nagaland youths spread message to care for environment

DIMAPUR— A 35-foot concrete wall adjacent to the Forest department in Dimapur is being transformed with a vibrant mural that will serve as an eye-catching reminder to care for the environment. Through their art, the volunteers aim to inspire passersby to take small actions that can make a big difference.

The project, which was commenced by Child-Friendly Dimapur on Monday, under the aegis of ANMA Integrated Development Association (AIDA), is part of a broader campaign launched on June 17 and is scheduled to conclude on September 29.

The project intends to promote children’s right to a healthy environment under Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, i.e., children have the right to good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment so that they will stay healthy.

Launched on the theme “one step towards creating clean and safe environment for children,” it is currently being created through the collaborative efforts of 16 people from AIDA, the Child Rights Club, and youth volunteers from Sangtamtilla and Bor Lengri.

The environmental awareness mural is expected to be completed within a week and is a part of the children, youth, and civil society organisations (CSOs) campaign launched in collaboration with the Dimapur Municipal Council and Child Rights Club members.

Carol Lotha, the project coordinator for Child-Friendly Dimapur, told Eastern Mirror that the initiative is to raise environmental awareness amongst passersby, while expressing hope that this small act will make a collective difference.

“Instead of poster campaign, we chose to do mural painting as we realised that pasting pamphlets and posters on the wall was more like littering the space and the city. In the last two years of our campaign, we carried out poster campaign, but what we realised was that it was littering the environment, and it does not last long as people tear the pamphlets, which is an eyesore. We should also initiate activities that can cause less environmental damage,” she said.

She emphasised that public understanding, contribution, and behavioural change are key to protecting the environment.

While noting that the volunteers painting the mural are not professional artists, she said those involved in the project are good at it. She also conveyed that collaborative work can empower a community to take action, and the project is an effective way, as it is eye-catching, can promote collaboration, and can involve people in creating awareness.

She affirmed that Child-Friendly Dimapur plans to continue to follow up on this project in the future by maintaining the stretch, saying that many such projects taken up by organisations are abandoned after a while.

She also appealed to the Forest department to take care of the stretch and space.