Wokha, October 23 (DIPR): Bhandari Town was declared the first 100% LED covered township under Wokha district and the second in Nagaland on October 21.
M. Patton (IAS), Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Nagaland, who was the chief guest, stated that achieving 100% LED covered status by the town was indeed commendable. Through scientific and research works, humankind has progressed a long way and reached a stage where there is a choice to use health friendly and energy efficient products such as LED lights, a shift from the earlier use of heat generating and energy consuming lighting systems and oil lamps, he added.
Power conservation, preservation of energy, proper management as well as its sensible use, Patton stated, are everyone's bounden responsibility not only to maintain economy, but to save ourselves from energy crisis which we are already experiencing. “A bigger crisis in the near future can be envisaged if we neglect the issue of saving power and energy today,” he added.
T. Mhabemo Yanthan, Secretary, Government of Nagaland and President, Lotha Officers' Association (LOA) in his greetings lauded Minister for Geology & Mining and Border affairs, Mmhonlumo Kikon for pursuing the scheme with personal interest and for taking all required initiatives to bring it to the people's doorstep by teaming up with the civil administration.
Stressing on the interdependence of human, the eco-system and the environment, he suggested that the people of the town should plant at least 10,000 trees around their localities during the World Environment Day 2018.
Longshi Odyuo, GB in his short speech appealed to the Lotha Officers' Association to continue to guide and encourage the younger generations to take pride and uphold the valuable age old traditions and customs of the Lothas.
He lamented that many folklores, skilled works in handicraft, hand woven products, tools and implements etc, which were passed down to us from the forefathers seems to be gradually losing appeal to the youngsters. He called on the LOA to take steps to restore the disappearing legacies of the forefathers.
He added that the distinct ways of calling or addressing a person in the Lotha family or in the society is based on the particular clan or group of clans to which a person is born, but in the contemporary times, the youngsters do not seem to be very knowledgeable about the traditional etiquettes or bindings.
T. Nchumbemo Odyuo, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhandari, during the welcome address highlighted that the implementation process of the programme started in the month of June, 2017, where a proper sensitization was necessitated to create total awareness to the public and also to tackle initial sense of doubt by some regarding the advantages of using LED lighting system. Personal interactions from consumer households who have experienced the over lapping benefits of using the LED lights after its adoption were held at a household levels too, he said.
He also highlighted that presently 513 households are covered by the programme. Besides the street lights, 11,000 bulbs were procured for the town as well as the villages of the sub division, out of which 131 number of bulbs were given free of cost to the disadvantaged section of the society, he added.
He expressed gratitude to the LOA, Electrical department, NGOs, the students’ body and the well-wisher individuals who also contributed bulbs, lighting materials and other needful things to make the town achieve its targeted goal.
Those who spoke during the function included James Jami, SDPO Bhandari, Jungithung Yanthan, member LLRPO and president Mhankai Okho, Thungsali Odyuo, president Eloe Hoho Bhandari, and Longtsubemo Kikon, president BTSU.
A prayer of blessings and invocation was offered by Rev. N. Abemo Patton, Pastor BTBC, while a special song was presented by Amos Kikon.
The programme was attended by members of the Lotha Officers' Association, officers from the subdivision, civil societies, church leaders etc, who pledged to adopt the LED lighting system at home and work place henceforth.
