LEMSACHENLOK: Leading biodiversity conservation and beyond

Longleng, November 24 (MExN): Different community initiative projects of ‘Lemsachenlok’ under Yaongyimchen Citizens were launched and inaugurated with Temjen Toy, Additional Chief Secretary and Finance Commissioner, Government of Nagaland as the special guest and Menukhol John, Principal Secretary, School Education Government of Nagaland as special invitee on November 15 last.  

In the presence of the special invitee, HoDs, civil society leaders and citizens of Yaongyimchen, Temjen Toy inaugurated a Community Initiative Projects; an Organic Species Production Project; an Innovative Community Biodiversity View Tower; and an Innovative Integrated Terrace Farming.  

The guests were given public reception at the public ground with Students Union presenting a dance of welcome.  

Need of policy plan for greater conservation

n his short speech, Nungdang, representing the Village Councils of Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu said that all species are given asylum in our village jurisdiction and the Village Council assigns the members for touring the biodiversity conservation area throughout the year.  

“The huge challenges posed is the animals get shot once they are outside the protected zone and this is something the Government must join in order to augment the hard work of the community,” he stated and added, “there is an urgent need of coming up with a policy plan with the Government and work together for achieving greater goal.”

L. Takotemjen, Secretary of Lemsachenlok at the event said, “With the initiative of this society we have encountered massive positive changes in our village.”  

He also requested the Government to create a space for them where they can join hands and work together to convey the importance of biodiversity conservation.”  

Yongchet, a public leader from Yaongyimchen in his speech encouraged the community to continuously support the vision of the leaders as the journey has just begun and with the commitment the community posses at present, it can achieve so much. “Nothing should sidetrack the objective since we have a very far sighted vision,” said Yongchet.  

Robin, SDO Civil, Longleng appreciated the community for their hard work and sacrifices to achieve this feat. He also appreciated the community for taking up the Alijo (Laaipang-Morung) concept of education coupled with formal education system in keeping the history of forefathers. He challenged the citizens to make this conservation a bigger challenge to all the people of Longleng district and the people of Nagaland.

Reconnecting mind with nature

Bano Haralu, Managing Trustee, Nagaland Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation Trust in her speech mentioned that conservation is not a new concept to the Nagas “because our ancestors were already involved in conserving wild species. They did not take much more than what they required but collected the basic needs.”  

She said, “While the people of Nagaland seem to have forgotten our history and the relationship of humanity with nature, which has become a huge threat for the environment, here is a village showing us that there is still a way to make peace with nature and with God who created this universe.”  

Everything is inspired by nature, the food we eat, tools and other things we use to build houses, the traditional attires are all from nature but today we have lost that connection. It is therefore imperative to reconnect our mind with nature and build relationship with nature.  

Laaipang - Morung model of education

Menukhol John, Principal Secretary of the School Education who was the special invitee of the occasion said that the Alijo (Laaipang–Morung) model of education established by the Community is a remarkable initiative and has contributed so much for development of education in the district and the state.  

John said he was not here to teach but to learn, studying the remarkable initiative of the community through Lemsachenlok without any financial support from outside.  

Having listened to Chongpang a young boy, who spoke on “how he and his generation learned so much about the village, its migration story, its rich culture and tradition, the values of traditional education, skilling in different art after coming to Alijo,” appreciated the villagers for being obedient to their leaders.” Chongpang spoke on what he learned from Alijo.  

“While many organizations were not prepared for community service,” John said, “it is encouraging to see Lemsachenlok and its members’ commitment in giving their time, resources and everything for community service which needs to be acknowledged.”  

Yaongyimchen and DoSE sign MoU

The School Education chose to sign a MoU. The present Laaipang-Alijo concept in Yaongyimchen will serve as a model which the department is partnering with Lemsachenlok so that it is expanded to other districts.  

Menukhol John, Principal Secretary representing the Samagram Shihsha- School Education and Y. Nuklu Phom Team Leader representing Lemsachenlok a development society under Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu Villages, signed the MoU partnership for Alijo Laaipang-Lighthouse Model. Since 2011, Lemsachenlok took up the Alijo Model of Education which transformed the lives of many young people and even augmenting their studies. The MoU is signed as a Model Program and a channel to spread the importance of tradition, cultural values and how in the formal education system children can integrate many different skills of education.  

Biodiversity conservation as a mission

Temjen Toy, Additional Chief Secretary and Finance Commissioner, GoN said that the community members though many may not be aware of the saying “Think Globally and Act Locally” have weaved towards this purpose. Whatever the Community has done in the local context has contributed to the state and the global world. One specific thing Temjen was deeply enriched from the community was “the local contribution augmenting so much to the Global world in the area of Environmental preservation through your Biodiversity Conservation initiative,” he said, “while thinking globally and acting locally, supporting the local community (support Locally) is the most important call of our time.”  

He further said, “Time for reversal has come, biodiversity conservation in itself is a mission, the Community of Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu are missionaries. Your ‘community life, concerted effort, your hard work in initiating different innovative projects and owning it are huge success stories, specially the biodiversity initiative’ needs to be proclaimed to other communities of the country.” He encouraged the community to start missionary work reaching out to the whole world.  

After the formal programme, Additional Chief Secretary & Finance Commissioner and Principal Secretary along with HoDs of Education Department and other officers were engaged in serving mid day meal to students from three different schools.  

The Community also organized an economic generating seminar separately for men and women. The resource person for the women group was Temjensangla, Assistant Professor, Fazl Ali College Mokokchung and Imlitoshi Principal, People’s College, Mokokchung spoke to men towards hard work and innovative activities in order to generate sustainable income.