Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Sep. 21 (EMN): A workshop highlighting the hazards of plastic, and matters about recycled waste and use of alternative products was conducted on September 21 at Sungkomen Baptist Church in Mokokchung.
The Ao women’s organisation Watsu Mungdang in collaboration with Zero Waste Himalaya of Nagaland (ZWHN), and YARD, and sponsored by the state’s Swachh Bharat Mission, organized the programme.
Thangi Mannen, convener of ZWHN, was the speaker of the event. The retired bureaucrat spoke about the various aspects of plastic pollution and how the ‘overuse’ of plastic is negatively affecting the environment, and endangering the existence of life on earth. She spoke about the need to reduce and make conscious choices in consumption patterns.
‘A lifestyle change from excessiveness is much needed to curb plastic pollution as well as to reduce the mounting garbage pile-ups everywhere,’ she said.
Mannen pointed out that plastic and its processes contribute to Global Warming, and that children in over 163 countries were going on strikes to raise this issue because their future is at stake. She spoke also about the importance of waste segregation in homes or at source, and of proper disposal of waste.
“The principles of ‘my waste my responsibility’ should be understood and practised by everyone. The cleanup efforts of some groups, NGOs and occasional social work, though laudable, will not be sustainable unless the community concerned are involved and take matters into their own hand,” she said.
Mannen also emphasised on the importance of information, education and communication, and the participation of all stakeholders in tackling the problem of waste. Likewise, she spoke to the gathering about the various strategies and ideas for recycling, reuse, and re-purposing of waste into building materials such as eco-bricks, and crafts, household items, bags, furniture etc as a way to a “zero waste” environment, and reducing the load on landfills.
Mannen spoke about the government’s program “Swachhata Hi Seva” with the participants, and urged them to participate in the ‘Swachhata Shramdaan’ to be conducted on October 2.
The deputy commissioner of Mokokchung district Rajesh Soundararajan, spoke at the programme too. Exhorting the gathering , he said that the plastic waste people dispose off ultimately come back to them. The official said that the best way to tackle plastic is to avoid using it as much as possible.
Plastic pollution should be seen from the larger perspective as its impact is far-reaching, he said. Soundararajan has emphasised on the need for behavioural change in the daily life of the people.
Members of the Watsu Mungdang in Mokokchung, and members of villages, church leaders, YWCA, and women leaders of political parties, among others attended the event.
Imliben Lemtur, the proprietor of Monalisa Business Solution, stated to be the first paper bag-manufacturing unit in the state, contributed about 2500 papers bags of various sizes.
There was also a practical session during the program. Members of the YWCA of Mokokchung imparted training in paper and cloth bag-making. YWCA had been leading in promoting cloth bag-making for the past two years besides setting up a production unit. Some sewing machines from well-wishers will be distributed to interested individuals to make cloth bags.
The Watsu Mungdang, which will be participating in the Swachhata Sharmdan on October 2, has decided to continue with similar activities in villages and towns.
