EMN
Dimapur, April 15
Members of the Phek Town Youth Society, in Phek district, have had enough of dirty stories at this point – on Thursday, the organization undertook what they called the ‘Clean-Green Operation Phek Program.’ The April 14 event in the town was organized to “sensitize the people and importance of sanitation and green environment,” the group stated in a press release issued to the media on said day. It may be mention that Clean-Green Operation will carry on till the existence of Phek Town Youth Society.
The program was launched by Murohu Chotso, deputy commissioner of Phek, during a formal program. In his address during the occasion, he cited the example of “lifestyles of the advance tribes.” If the surroundings are clean, the people will become healthier as would the children be, and more intellectual too. He also pointed out that the ‘bad habit of smoking or spitting pan, tamul anywhere will be banned.’
Resource person of the event, Rongsenmenla Imchen, the Divisional Forest Officer of Phek, spoke about the benefits of ‘clean and green’ environments. ‘Clean and green environment give clean water, air, disease free and happy life. Trees should be planted to absorb poisonous gases, at the same time one should maintained clean stream and nullahs,’ she said. Imchen also encouraged the people to aspire for a ‘green market’ i.e., a wildlife capital free from poaching.
Imchen also stated that vehicular movement has increased and there is a need to pool transport to prevent pollution and to save fuel. She has encouraged the community to render full support and cooperation toward ‘fruitful implementation of the cleanliness program.’
The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Phek, Kuko Mero, also a resource person, talked about solid waste management. He said that the Phek Town Council was ‘looking after 15 dustbins’ for ‘sanitation purpose’ in the town. He pointed out that it was every citizen’s responsibility to make Phek district a clean and ‘green’ district. Everyone should experience the truth that “health is truly wealth,” he added.
Also speaking on cleanliness and public health, Dr. Wetshelo T Mero, a senior specialist at the District Hospital of Phek, spoke about ‘poor sanitation and its effects’ and practices such as “haphazardly disposing waste material and non-biodegradable substances such as plastics, bottle and rubbers causes health hazards to the people.” He warned that burning plastic materials produce toxins that affect the respiratory system. This causing cancer and may lead to death, he said. He also said that poor sanitation cause common sickness such as the flu, diarrhoea, pneumonia, cholera, and dysentery, among others. Therefore, he said, one should work to maintain a clean environment to prevent illnesses.
During the program, a number of resolutions were undertaken. One of the resolutions assured to ‘totally clean the area within three months.’ The gathering also wrote their signatures on a banner as a sign of support and pledge to keep the town and surroundings clean.
