Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 27: Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and Dimapur Bongs on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the latter committed to maintain and beautify the footpath and adjoining wall along Kalibari Road in Dimapur for a period of one year. The MoU was signed at the DMC office in the presence of its administrator Moa Sangtam.
Dimapur Bongs is an association of Bengali youth formed to bring all Bengali youth of Dimapur under one umbrella and work together for the betterment of the society in general and community people in particular.
Sangtam said the MoU with the Dimapur Bongs comes after DMC’s initiative to involve community participation for a better Dimapur. He added that DMC has undertaken adoption drive to involve community groups.
With the signing of MoU with Dimapur Bongs, Sangtam said the former will be the first non-Naga community to be part of ‘Better Dimapur’ project. He conveyed that DMC wants the involvement of non-Naga community for ‘Better Dimapur’ project and set an example not only for other districts in Nagaland but to the neighbouring states as well.
“The presumption of the citizens was that it was the responsibility of the government to take care of public property but as citizens of the state it is our responsibility to contribute,” pointed out Sangtam.
According to Sangtam, the initiative was undertaken to set an example and cause a ripple effect. The MoU, which is for a period of one-year, can be extended if the party commits to continue, informed Sangtam.
DMC will be signing another MoU with the Naga Women Hoho on October 2 with the latter adopting a stretch from Clock Tower to Holy Cross School junction.
Dimapur Bongs assured to uphold the MoU and extend all possible assistance to DMC.
The group briefed that they plan to paint the defaced walls, undertake plantation drive in the area adopted by them and affirmed to make the area ‘dust free zone’.