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DIMAPUR — If there was a village in Nagaland that epitomised cleanliness, it would be Thahekhu. A stroll through its streets left visitors in awe of its cleanliness, even without the presence of dustbins. Not anymore.
Established in 1951, Thahekhu village, considered one of the largest under Dimapur district, has consistently earned praise for its well-maintained landscapes, town planning, and effective waste management. Local shops are well-kept, and shopkeepers ensure their surroundings remain litter-free.
However, a persistent issue has plagued the Thahekhu Village Council (TVC) recently-- indiscriminate waste dumping, including animal carcasses, allegedly by ‘outsiders’ (people from other localities).
This unsightly problem, concentrated in the Block II area, has become a growing concern for both residents and the council.
TVC chairman, George Ayemi, and secretary, Inato Yepthomi, told Eastern Mirror that garbage has been a concern for some time now. They said the council has been actively seeking solutions to this problem as the culprits are not villagers but outsiders who take advantage of the secluded location despite the presence of a clear signboard prohibiting littering.
For decades, the village council has been taking proactive initiatives to turn the village into a model of cleanliness.
With a population of approximately 13,000 residents and 1,700 households (including tenants), the village maintains individual household waste management, demonstrating how effective collaboration between representatives and residents can lead to positive transformation.
TVC advisor and Water & Sanitation (WATSAN) committee chairman, Mughavi Chishi said the village has a group called ‘Progressive Waste Management’ comprising local youth and supported by the village council.
The group takes charge of house-to-house waste collection on alternate days and transport the garbage to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) dumpsite. A certain monthly fee is paid to the DMC for this, he said.
Although this waste management group is in suspension for few months due to technical reason, it will resume soon, he said, adding that the group charges a nominal fee of INR 150 per month from every household for their service.
“Every household in the village manages its own garbage by segregating waste since every house has one’s own compound with ample space. The shopkeepers are also strictly instructed to keep dustbins in their shops and manage their garbage. Educating people on waste and its management has become a daily routine for every individual here, and people have become more aware,” Chishi shared.
On the absence of waste bins in the village, he said it was because people of Thahekhu would never throw their waste randomly, and that the dustbins would be of no use to them.
The village has eight blocks, each with at least two council members who actively monitor their respective blocks. This is how the village community comes together for transformation, he said.
Regarding the garbage issue in Block II, Chishi pointed out that since the stretch is deserted, people assume that there is no one to question them and that they can dump their waste without consequences, even though signs have been put up there.
“The landowner has also raised concern. The perpetrators are elusive and must be passing the area at odd hours to dump their garbage, otherwise we have also deployed volunteers but have not caught anyone so far,” he said.
However, he cautioned that any perpetrators caught in the act would be dealt with according to the customary law of the village and the first culprit caught will bear the consequences.
Stating that the council would soon clear out the area, Chishi warned that, “no individual should throw their garbage in the village”.