Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | September 24
In Asia’s first green village—Khonoma, tidying up is something that everybody takes seriously. Every citizen of the village has naturally cultivated the sense of cleanliness even as they themselves play proactive role in keeping their village clean.
On a Saturday morning, over 200 school children would gather at 5:30 am, ready to carry out the task of emptying about 180 innovative dustbins placed all along the paths in the village and spread across 15 colonies. There is hardly any litter to be picked as cleanliness is just ingrained in every villager. This is an activity that takes place twice a month and conducted by the Khonoma Students’ Union ever since the village was declared as ‘green village’ on October 25, 2005.
Seyiesekuo Meru, a class-6 student of Christian Welfare School, Khonoma says he looks forward to these two Saturdays in a month where students from 6 different schools including 3 high schools and 3 primary schools gather to work together. The young boy, like most children his age wakes up at 5:00 am and is all set to empty the dustbins by 5:30.
When asked if they are happy to be part of the cleanliness initiative, 5 young boys studying in Class-5 echoed similar sentiments and said they have never missed it except on one or two occasions. The social work goes on for an hour after which the students go back to doing their daily tasks.
Menovikho Viyie, President of Khonoma Students’ Union enlightens that the organization collaborates with the schools in the village while stating that it is a joint, community effort that keeps the village clean. “The parents of the students know that their children are part of this initiative on cleanliness which is why they also don’t litter”, he expresses.
Neikedolie Hiekha, an environment enthusiast observes that the implementation of the cleanliness initiative in the village has been very successful and has been improving over the years. Impressing upon that every student makes a conscious effort to keep their village clean, he states that their mindsets on this initiative is very positive and encouraging. However, he is also concerned about waste management while expressing the need for a segregation centre in the village. “This would help us reuse and recycle and would complete the meaning of Khonoma green village”, he puts across while pointing out that been declared ‘green village’ is not about painting the roofs green.
The little pathways in the centuries old village are also adorned with flower pots which are contributions made by different individuals.
