Dimapur, August 6 (MExN): Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Open Defecation Free (ODF) plus was held at Xelhozhe and S Hotovi villages under Kuhuboto block.
Organized by PHE Rural Division, Dimapur district and sponsored by WSSO, Nagaland the objective is ODF plus sustenance, with focus on solid and liquid waste management, plastic waste management and Fecal Sludge Management (FSM).
District Coordinator, DWSM Dimapur Imojungla Longkumer talked about the components of ODF Plus and stressed on the importance of reduce, reuse and recycle. Dwelling on plastic waste management, she stressed on adopting a single-use-plastic free lifestyle like using reusable cotton bags for shopping, reusable cups or plates or biodegradable disposables during gatherings and events. She opined that with concerted efforts by all individuals and community we can reduce plastic pollution to a great extent.
DWSM’s sanitation and hygiene consultant Vito G Sema spoke on Liquid waste management and the ways to contain it while IEC consultant Vibou Seyie, IEC consultant briefed the gathering on solid waste management and the need to use locally available resources to replace single use plastic.
The visiting team urged the community leaders to put their heads together, to work out ways and means to tackle plastic menace and promote zero single use plastic. In an effort to minimize waste and create consciousness about the hazards of plastic use, a cloth banner was used for the event. A notable development is the efforts of the Xelhozhe Department of Youth Ministry to collect plastic waste from every household and selling it to a recycle chain, thus minimizing waste.
The programme was attended by Village Council, WATSAN members, women, student, youth and church leaders. Structure of PRA is on Focused Group discussion, Problem analysis, Transect walk and social mapping which were carried out extensively.
