On Earth Day, volunteers undertake drive to make Dzükou litter-free

Volunteers picking litters during the 'Dzükou cleanliness drive' on Tuesday (EM images)

• KOHIMA — Braving rain and misty weather, about 300 volunteers turn out and actively participated in cleaning trash along the routes of Dzükou Valley and the base camp on the occasion of Earth Day.
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• Tuesday’s ‘Dzükou Cleanliness Drive’ was organised by the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) and sponsored by Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Kohima.
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• Volunteers from 13 villages of Southern Angami and the NSS from St. Joseph College Jakhama, were divided into six groups to clean the routes to Dzükou from both Jakhama and Viswema base camps till the guest house.

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• Earlier, addressing the kickoff programme at Jakhama ground, Zuthunglo Patton, Conservator of Forest (Southern Territorial Circle), said that the focus of this year's Earth Day on the theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ is on renewable energy sources with an aim is to triple renewable energy generation by 2030.
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• She cited the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report of 2025 that indicated that of top 10 risks which the world is facing, five of them are environmentally related.
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• Calling for collective actions, she acknowledged SAYO for taking the lead in organising the cleanliness drive, and added that this shows their commitment, responsibility, and motivation towards protecting the planet.
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• Patton also reminded that survival on this earth depends on how one lives in day-to-day life. Towards this, she said that each one can do their bit not only as an individual but also as communities.
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• “The cleanliness drive is an opportunity for the youth to not only contribute for the noble cause but this will also help them in building their confidence in the future,” she said and expressed hope that the youth will take part in such activities in the future.
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• Zasitsolie Beio, president of SAYO, said the day is a reminder that caring for Dzükou is not a one day affair but a life-long process and a responsibility and so volunteer have come forward to protect, preserve and honour the majestic Dzükou valley.
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• “Each piece of litter we remove is a step towards restoring the pristine beauty,” he said and called for healing the earth again. “The action taken today will be an inspiration for the future generation,” he added.
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• He also reminded that the World Earth Day Organisation had recognised the service of SAYO in protecting Dzükou Valley.
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• Zhokedu Zhotso, Health & Environmental secretary of SAYO, said that by undertaking the sanitation drive, they will be fulfilling one of the five ideals highlighted by the Earth Day Network this year — to free Dzükou Valley from litter and plastics.
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• Earlier, Kekhüseto Tase, associate pastor of Jakhama Baptist Church, invoked God’s blessings for the programme.
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• The Tata Mobile Union, Jakhama, transported the volunteers to their specified locations. Further, T-shirts were also distributed to the volunteers.