Tseminyu aims to lead as Nagaland’s model district on Green Initiatives

October 27, 2023 49 Views No Comment

Launches Vision Document

Our Correspondent
Tseminyu | October 27

“Our Mission is to make Tseminyu the first model district on green initiatives,” envisaged the Vision Document on Tseminyu District Green Initiatives launched on October 26.

Unveiling the document during the monthly meeting of Tseminyu District Planning & Development Board, Jwenga Seb called upon the Rengma community to put collective effort for effective implementation of the green initiatives.

Among others, vision is to nurture an environment that provides an equitable quality of life in harmony with nature for all its citizens and make the district a pioneer for green initiatives.

“We aim to do that by being a multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary catalyst for communities, government, grassroots, NGOs, private and policy actors on green growth and sustainable development initiatives that requires mass participation, community ownership and long term, behavioral change to witness real transformation in the community,” the document reads.

Mentionably, the Tseminyu District Committee on Green Growth and Sustainable Development Initiatives was constituted on September 8 2023 in pursuance of a decision taken during the monthly meeting of Tseminyu DPDB on August 2023.

The aim of the committee is to pursue the agenda of transforming Tseminyu into a model district for green initiatives.

Upon the inauguration of Tseminyu as a historical district on December 18, 2021, the Tseminyu DPDB has had engaged various stakeholders such as local governing bodies, churches, civil societies, NGOs and concerned members for consultations and deliberations on the idea of a model district.
Likewise, in July 2022, the Tseminyu DPDB endorsed the Tseminyu District Community Conservation Plan jointly submitted by the Council of Rengma Baptist Churches, Kenono Foundation and the Rengma Village Council Chairman Forum.

This marked the onset of collaborations and ideas on community biodiversity conservation and carbon financing as a key pathway for Tseminyu to become the 1st green district in Nagaland.

As per the 2011 Census, Tseminyu district, located 50 Km away from the state capital Kohima, has a population of 63,269 and an area of 256 square kilometre. There are 40 recognised villages and 2 unrecognized villages in the district.

1st Phase Goals
The goal of the 1st Phase (2023-2030) of Tseminyu District Green Initiatives is to foster new environmental consciousness and awareness among the people by increasing their knowledge levels, green cover, carbon sink capacity, and the biodiversity of the district.

The initiative aims to preserve and maintain the rich forest biodiversity and springwater sources of the district, ensuring the people inherit a rich natural heritage and have water security for consumption.

Furthermore, the initiative will strive to enhance sanitation and hygiene in rural and urban areas, with the objective of achieving 100% coverage by 2030 through a mass people’s movement. This includes ensuring that rural areas maintain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, practicing safe and hygienic behaviors, and establishing solid and liquid waste management systems in all villages and towns.

In addition, it envisaged transforming Tseminyu into a model-integrated and ecologically sustainable tourism district of state and national importance. This transformation will be achieved through the adoption of low-carbon technologies, proactive waste prevention and management practices, and a greater focus on preserving the district’s natural biodiversity resources as well as its cultural and historical heritage.
Other goals will be included on a need and priority basis as determined by the committee.

Pathway I: Greening of Tseminyu District through community-led plantation and awareness building.

Pathway II: Accelerating the promotion and strengthening of community biodiversity conservation.

Pathway III: People’s movements for mass behavioural change on water sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) and adoption of appropriate waste management practices and systems.

Pathway IV: Development of Tseminyu Green Tourism pathways