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School children collect waste from a waste bin. (Image courtesy: Khonoma Students' Union)[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, June 12: Khonoma village in Kohima district was declared the first 'green village' in Nagaland in 2005. It is at their best now with the implementation of a community initiative called the "Khonoma Green practice project."
It was on World Environment Day on June 5 that the Khonoma Students' Union (KSU) spearheaded a program declaring Khonoma a 'Green practice village,' which was a supplement to its status as a 'green' village; it was declared so in 2005.
On June 5, the KSU passed resolutions which are to be strictly adhered to. The resolutions banned plastic bags, package drinking water bottles, and Styrofoam cups and plates. Violators will be penalised according to the local laws. Visitors to Khonoma are asked to comply with the aforesaid resolutions.
The "Khonoma green practice project" is the result of community initiative when, on April 22, the KSU had discussions with 15 village organisations to consider ways to beautify the environment and to maintain a green environment in the village.
There, they decided to ban some of the most used plastic materials during picnics and gatherings such as packaged drinking water bottles, and Styrofoam cups and plates, besides those used during shopping such as plastic bags.
The president of the KSU, Kelhoukholie Khate, talked about the declaration of the 'Green practice project' on June 5. Since the 'Green village project' started in 2005, he said, students have been responsible for cleaning the village once every month.
Readers can see images of young school children with umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain as they pick up trash from the village's streets.
KSU organising secretary Pelevizo Meyase speaking to Eastern Mirror said the students in Khonoma village conduct cleanliness drive every morning of the second Saturday picking all the trash on the streets and collect the dustbins and empty them it when its full.
"After every cleanliness drive we take attendance and give awards to every student who turns up in all the cleanliness drive without fail during children's day. By doing this every month the students not only clean the village but also have the sense of responsibility at their childhood by not throwing any sweet wrappers anywhere they go and practice clearing their trash in the dustbin', Meyase said. Also he said, with the declaration of "Green Practice village" it will encourage the students from young to use biodegradable things and reusable cup and plates and inculcate the habit of carrying their own water bottles wherever they go.
Behind all the success of the "Khonoma Green practice project", Meyase on his social media credited the young students of Khonoma village as he stated "the rain or storm doesn't stop them from their sense of responsibilities in keeping our village clean. Some Kids walk even more than a kilometre to attend our monthly cleanliness drive at 5:30 am in the morning and they never skip their duties". If you ever visit Khonoma, he states, these are the students that cleans the streets every month.
The KSU is affirmative that if someone wish to come to Khonoma one should carry its own water bottle and they can refill their water bottle in any house in the village, also using of disposable cups and plates in its jurisdiction is now restricted so one should bring its own cups and plates or can even hire from the village as the village keep cups and plates for rent.
The KSU is stern in their task for ‘Green Practice’ as the task will be undertaken by the student body and any defaulters who are found will be penalised with community service or even to the extent of imposing fine.