Sishunu declared tobacco, plastic & waste free village

MGNREGA funded approach road project inaugurated in the village

Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 28  

An approach road and footsteps constructed under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during 2017-18 was formally inaugurated today at Sishunu village under Tseminyu sub-division by Alemla Chishi, Project Director cum DPC, DRDA Kohima.  

In conjunction with the inauguration of the approach road, Sishunu was declared as tobacco, plastic & waste free village and the villagers vowed to implement the same in letter and spirit.  

Sishunu under Chunlikha block lies 11 km away from Tseminyu and 64 km from the state capital Kohima. Addressing the gathering at the Sishunu community hall, Chishi complimented the village authority for using the provided funds judiciously for overall upliftment of the rural populace.  

Pleased by the effective implementation of the various schemes/ projects in the village, she maintained that Sishunu can become a model village in the State.  

Urging the villagers to maintain unity and transparency, Chishi said nothing can stop any development when there is unity and transparency.   Further, she challenged the villagers to continue to do good works in order to flourish in future.  

Tobacco free village

Dr. Aren Thong, District Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme handed over a certificate to Sishunu village council chairman Joel Kath after the official declaration of the village as tobacco free village.  

With this, Sishunu has become the 4th tobacco free village after Gariphema, Khonoma and Jotsoma under Kohima district.  

There will be no sale of tobacco products inside the village, Dr. Aren said, adding that smoking or chewing of tobacco will also henceforth be restricted inside the premises of any educational institutions, offices, community halls, library, bus stop, sports complex within the village jurisdiction.  

As per guidelines for tobacco free villages, a Tobacco Control Committee should be in place to monitor the tobacco control initiatives of the village and meet quarterly and report to the district administration.  

Plastic & waste free village

Sishunu village council secretary Nathaniel Kath also declared Sishunu as plastic & waste free village from today. With this, the village council resolved to ban dumping of all kinds of waste particularly polythene bags in public places. It also resolved to ban all kinds of tobacco and Gutkas products within the village jurisdiction. Necessary action will be taken against the violators, Kath said.  

Footsteps connected to every household

Sishunu VDB secretary John Kath told the media persons that every household in the village has been connected with footsteps constructed under MGNREGA.  

Among the many other visible developmental activities in the village include, purchase of community bus, construction of VDB office, panchayat hall, agri link road, approach road, community hall cum indoor stadium, construction of public well, construction of toilet, construction of retaining wall cum CC road, cultivation of kiwi fruits, banana, orange, pomegranate, cardamom, papaya under MGNREGA through conversion programme etc.  

Kath saluted the State government and RD department for having introduced VDB for upliftment of the rural economy in Nagaland.  

He also thanked GoI, Ministry of Rural Development for launching national flagship programnmes like MGNREGA, PMAY, National Livelihood Mission, BRGF, and the state government for generously granting Grant-in-Aid to VDBs annually.