‘Environment is one common thread onnecting all of us very intricately’

Morung Express News
Kohima | June 6

While everyone may have different interests to pursue and different objectives to achieve, Dr Jitendra Gupta, IAS, Additional Secretary, Agriculture and State Project Director, FOCUS- Nagaland on Monday said, “environment is one common vehicle in which we all have to board whether we want or not, and one shared responsibility which we all have to shoulder.”

He was virtually addressing an outdoor event celebrating World Environment Day at NSF Solidarity Park, Kohima, organised by FOCUS (Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Systems in Nagaland) on June 5.

Asserting that environment is that common friend, which requires care from everyone, he also remarked that “whereas Environment is like a mother who cares for all its children without discrimination, it is also like a child who needs care and love from all.” Towards this end, he urged for “collective and collaborative actions, not only aimed at saving environment but also aimed at regenerating environment, regenerating air, water, soil, forest and every bit and inch of surroundings in totality.”

Calling for joint actions, he also highlighted that the Project FOCUS through its multi-pronged strategies, activities and interventions is taking up a lot for water and soil conservation activities, many interventions for reducing use of chemicals, encouraging planting more trees and discouraging the felling of trees etc. Citing that the District Project Management Unit of Kohima has recently banned single use disposal plastic cups and plates in its office, he said, the State Project Management Unit has also resolved that it will not use single use plastic in any of its office in any form.

Further articulating that the Project FOCUS not only works to double the agriculture income of its beneficiary farmers but also aims at environmentally sustainable and climate resilient agriculture, he said the Project is not leaving any stone unturned to increase jhum cycle and encourage its farmers for permanent settled cultivation which is more diversified and more integrated cutting across all aspects of agriculture.

“The Project truly aspires to achieve the dreams of farmers and fulfill the objectives of State Government and Central Government. The Project had a turbulent journey but now it is fast coming to track under the leadership of its mission director,” he said.

Urging everyone to come forward to fight the common enemy of plastic pollution, which is killing our beautiful planet, he said that “plastic has encroached into all aspects of life to such a great extent that it has seemingly become impossible to survive without plastic but we perhaps don’t realise that it is this plastic which will endanger our survival very soon.”

As Assistant Secretary, he said he was part of the deliberations and brainstorming sessions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt of India which led to framing of Plastic waste management rules. Stating that no department or ministry alone can solve this problem of plastic pollution, he asserted that “it cannot be solved without the participation of common man and women, young boys and girls, students and youth, you and me. Everyone will have to join hands together, everyone will have to come forward to solve this problem of plastic pollution.”
 
‘Committed to all steps required for finding solution to plastic problem’
The address by R Binchilo Thong, IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) & Mission Director, FOCUS- Nagaland, was read out by Sentiwapang, Addl Secretary Agriculture and Project Director ELEMENT, who graced the occasion as the special guest.

The APC remarked that plastic is choking the planet and has become an inevitable evil. He said that “the waste plastic which is not recycled and remains in environment has the most threatening hazard, human beings are facing.” He said that this non recovered plastic remains in environment, land, water, soil, rivers and ponds and cause cascading effects detrimental to whole ecosystem. Towards this end, he said that the state government and its department of agriculture along with Project FOCUS are committed to all steps required for finding a solution of this problem.

Stating that the Project FOCUS works to make agricultural practices more environmentally sustainable and climate resilient, he said that “the Project thinks beyond merely increasing the increasing the income of Agricultural Households.”

He further highlighted that the objectives and interventions of FOCUS encompass building an environment which is fit for human survival.

Putting across that “we may have different languages, different foods, different costumes, different cultures and different political boundaries”, he however asserted that “we all have one and only one environment” and told the young people that “you are the future, you are the solution.”
           
‘Let us be responsible guardians of this planet’
Sentiwapang, Additional Secretary, Agriculture and Project Director ELEMENT also called upon the gathering to be responsible guardians of this planet and to take actions while pointing out that our environment is not a limitless resource and we must treat it with the care it deserves. He said that the World Environment Day is not only about planting trees but being aware of what they are doing every day.

“Any action that we all do which does not go with the line of environment, we should realise and make sure that we, as students or leaders, it’s not only thinking and speaking and telling others but we have to practice in our own homes”, he urged. “We have billions of universes and galaxies but only one earth”, he added while calling upon the gathering to save the earth.

Delivering special remarks on the occasion, Kehwayhun Tep President, Naga Students’ Federation expressed concern as a student leader towards restoring the ecosystem. Recounting his personal journey in this regard, he said he was brought up from a very strict institution and taught the importance of preserving our mother earth from an early age.

In his humble capacity, he said, under his initiative, more than 40000 plants have been planted. He also urged the students to take care of their own respective waste while asserting that “each one of us are responsible in protecting our environment.”

The outdoor event for World Environment Day began with a walkathon in the morning, followed by an open drawing/painting competition. During the Award ceremony, prizes for the drawing competition, essay competition and vlogging competition were presented to the winners.

On-the-spot open drawing/painting competition
(Cash award of Rs 8000, Rs 5000, Rs 4000 and 5 consolation prize of Rs 1000 each)
1st: Thenukhrienuo, GMS D Khel; 2nd: Mishini, GMS, Bayavü; 3rd: Tim Tim, GMS Phezoucha; 5 Consolation prizes: Ramkiula, GMS Bayavü, Lavinuo, GMS Bayavü, Luto, GMS, Phezoucha, Hikato, GMS Phezoucha and Santanu, GMS Phezoucha
 
Essay Competition (cash award of Rs 5000, Rs 4000 and Rs 3000)
Category: Class 8-12
1st: Angel Raikhan; 2nd: Chavine Isabel Krocha; 3rd: Manisa Kaje (All from Little Flower Higher Secondary School Kohima)
 
Category: College
1st: Jubika Khala; 2nd: Khonzani T. Kithan; 3rd: Runogi Thyu
 
Vlogging Competition: 
1st: Arien, Rajat Limbu & Tiakumzuk (Cash award of Rs 1.7 lakh); 2nd: Arenkaba Jamir & Sunep Pongen (Rs.1.5 lakhs); 3rd: Kupe-ü Krome, Vikepe Yhokha & Keduokhrietuo Sachü (Rs1 lakh); Consolation: Cinematix (Rs.50,000); Consolation: Pelevizo Meyase & Thejavikho Chase (Rs.50000)