‘I want action, not declaration’
DC Mokokchung, Rajesh Soundarajan IAS launching the official twitter of Swachh Mokokchung during the formal launching of Swachhata Hi Seva campaign for Mokokchung district on September 20. (Morung Photo)
DC challenges people of Mokokchung to set pioneering example in beating plastic pollution
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | September 20
Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Rajesh Soundarajan IAS today challenged the people of Mokokchung to set a pioneering example in beating plastic pollution while speaking at the formal launching of Swachhate Hi Seva (SHS) for Mokokchung District.
While soliciting the support of all the citizens and civil society organizations, he also requested all the Heads of Departments in the district to lead by example and make their respective office premises free of single use plastics by October 2, 2019.
“I want action, not declaration,” he said, and added that it was very doable and that it does not require any funding. While encouraging the HoDs to be ambassadors as responsible officers, he also called upon the chairman of all the ward authorities in Mokokchung town to lead the campaign against plastic pollution.
The Deputy Commissioner said that SHS was a nationwide campaign for plastic waste awareness and its management, with special focus on single use plastics. He continued that the campaign against plastic pollution should be sustained and that it should not be limited to the SHS programme. He also said that each individual member of the society can contribute by practicing simple minimalistic things. While calling for the eradication of single use plastics, he also called upon the people to reduce plastics, to reuse and to recycle.
The launching of SHS in Mokokchug today was also marked by the distribution of dustbins by Mokokchung Municipal Council under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) to all the 8912 households under the municipality through the 18 ward authorities. The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung also launched the official Twitter handle “Swachh Mokokchung” as part of the launch programme. A reusable cloth bag was also distributed to each member present today which as produced by the Young Women Christian Association of Mokokchung.
Earlier, while delivering the keynote address, SDO(C) Mokokchung, Abhinav Shivam IAS spoke on the highlights of SHS and the tentative action plan for Mokokchung district. He also said that certain lifestyle changes needed to be made to reorient the way people do things in order to effectively address the problem of plastic pollution.
Swachh Bharat Mission Mokokchung district ambassador Imliyanger also spoke at the inaugural wherein he also said that sensitization of the masses was of paramount importance. He also said that the government cannot always direct how the people should live nor can it always keep funding and that it should, therefore, be the responsibility of the people to be more proactive. “We should realize that we are doing this for ourselves and not wait for government funds,” he said, and added that the communities should be more innovative in addressing the problems of plastic pollution.
ADM & Administrator of MMC, W. Manpai Phom, who chaired the program today, also clarified that the plastic waste collection points that has been identified in all the 18 wards of Mokokchung town was part of MMC’s action plan to contain plastic pollution and that collection of plastic wastes from each household in all the wards would begin from September 23 and that it would continue even after the lapse of the SHS campaign.
SWACHHATA HI SEVA
Action plan for Mokokchung
1. Plastic waste collection points/locations identified and notified for 18 wards under Mokokchung Municipal Council. Plastic waste collection drives to be launched from September 23, 2019.
Action – Mokokchung Municipal Council.
2. Plastic waste collection points/locations for other town councils, adhoc town committees, sub-division/circle headquarters and villages to be identified and notified.
Action – District Administration/Town Councils/Rural Development Department/PHED
3. Mass social work cleanliness drives to be organized in all 18 wards under Mokokchung Municipal Council on 28th September 2019. Special focus on clearing/cleaning of drainage and collection of plastic waste. Similar mass cleanliness drives to be organized in all town council jurisdictions, sub-division/circle headquarters and villages.
Action – District Administration, MMC, town councils, RD department, PHED, village councils.
4. Logistic arrangements for transportation of collected and segregated plastic wastes to be worked out. Government departments including state police and para-military to provide resource inventory details (availability of trucks and machineries) to district administration on or before September 25, 2019.
Action – All government departments including state police and para military.
5. Mass Shramdaam / Mass plastic waste collection to be conducted on 2 October 2019 in all the towns, sub-division/circle headquarters and villages under Mokokchung district. The collected plastic waste to be segregated into recyclable and non-recyclable, cleaned, dried and stored in sheltered collection points.
Action – District Administration, MMC, town councils, RD department, PHED, village councils.
6. Village councils, ward authorities, churches, youth organizations, student bodies (AKM), WatsüMungdang and NGOs to mobilize volunteers for mass participation in plastic Shramdaam on October 2, 2019. Mass collection drive of plastic wastes to be conducted in all residential premises, all offices (government and private), educational institutions, religious places, parks, tourist spots, hotels and restaurants, stadiums and public grounds, market places, hospitals and clinics, national and state highways, nullas and streams.
Action – All stake holders
7. To declare all government offices and office premises single use plastic free zone by October 2, 2019.
Action – All government departments
8. Any other activities as deemed fit by any stakeholders shall also be carried out.
