Team Better Dimapur, winner of the A Kevichusa Citizenship Award 2025.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 20
Team Better Dimapur was honoured with the A Kevichusa Citizenship Award 2025. This year’s recipient was recognised for their dedication to improving the urban landscape and social fabric of Dimapur.
The Kevichusa Foundation described the team as “a group of very dedicated individuals, who have exemplified what it means to take ownership of a shared space, which is our city, Dimapur.” Since 2017, they have been proactively involved in community service, ranging from medical camps and relief work to their most visible contribution— the beautification of Dimapur. The foundation noted that the team has consistently transformed abandoned, and dirty public spaces into “beautiful ones,” often using their own resources and labour without seeking public attention.
The award was instituted to celebrate and promote the ideal of citizenship – to recognize individuals and groups that catalyse positive change in the society – in memory of A Kevichusa. It includes a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh.
Accepting the award on behalf of his team, Mhonchan Humtsoe, President of Team Better Dimapur, expressed a sense of renewed purpose. According to him, there have been times when it felt like no one was there to support their work, and only criticism coming their way.
“We were of the impression we were doing an unappreciated work. But today we realised what we have been doing has not gone to waste,” he said. Highlighting their long-term objective, Humtsoe added, “We have a vision for Dimapur. We want to make it the Garden City. It is a long journey, but we are going to do it with the citizens’ help.” He said that they will use the award money to fund their effort to make Dimapur better. The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang handed away the award. In his address, Dr. Chang emphasised that true citizenship is a shared responsibility reflected in everyday conduct and a willingness to contribute to the common good. He praised the awardees as shining examples of leadership through service and urged the public to embrace a culture of cleanliness. “If each and every one of us cleans our home, our surroundings, then we don't need to clean others’ surroundings. It will be clean for all of us,” he said, adding that the future of the state depends on compassionate and responsible young citizens.
The Chalie Kevichusa Essay Awards 2025, honouring the legacy of the late journalist and editor, were given to Lipokienla Walling and Boka K Rochill in the Youth and Senior category, respectively. In the Youth category, Walling was awarded a cash prize of Rs 30,000, while Rochill received Rs 50,000 in the Senior category. In keeping with the Kevichusa awards tradition, the essay awardees pledged to contribute 20 percent of the prize money to charities of their choice.
