Our Correspondent
Kohima Oct. 13 (EMN): The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) observed International Disaster Risk Reduction Day at the Heritage, by reaching out to school children of Kohima.
Delivering the keynote address of the event, officer on special duty to the NSDMA Johnny Ruangmei said that the Naga people need to find a way to coexist with Mother Nature and tackle Climate Change.
Advocating that climate change is real and affecting everyone, he highlighted that Nagaland have experienced a different pattern of rainfall this monsoon and added that it will be different in the coming years. He said that unless the people realize and adapt with the changing climatic changes, developmental gains in the state cannot be maintained and preserved.
“We are extracting all the stones and boulders from the riverbed for our commercial greed in Dimapur and making the water to flow freely with stronger current causing erosion and also destroying bridges, farms and other man made properties and in Kohima, we have selfishly grabbed even the drainage to build houses and when disaster strikes, everyone is concerned,” he said.
Ruangmei termed the Naga people ‘self made architects and engineers’ who built houses without consulting experts and specialists—which led to safety concerns for everyone. Time is of the essence and the Nagas need to realize and learn to educate oneself and their peers about the future and change it for the betterment of Nagaland and its younger generation
An organising member Thejangulie Zao said that a set of games was developed to help children understand the concept of disaster risk- reduction. He said each game has benefits as it carries lessons. These games can be applied in their daily lives and enhance their ability to respond to outward situations, he said.
Zao requested the school children and teachers to keep practicing the games in their schools and spread the message of disaster risk reduction.
