Students sensitized on environment issues

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, APRIL 22 As part of the Earth Day 2015 observation, Nagaland’s secular colleges on Wednesday got sensitized on environment issues that are plaguing the state, at a one-day workshop on Sustainable Development & Waste Management at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima. The programme was organized by the state directorate of Higher Education under the theme ‘Its Our Turn to Lead’. With the youth being the driving force in any society, the need for young students to understand environmental concerns and play a proactive role in conservation was underscored during the programme. These concerns include deforestation, loss of habitat and species, urban environmental problems (pollution, sanitation), health hazards and natural resources. An internal paper handed out on the occasion strongly outlined the lack of public/government participative approach in dealing with environmental issues and the need for concrete measures and clearly defined goals in dealing with environmental concerns in the state. The necessity to strike a balance between immediate needs of the people and long term measures in terms of development and environment was also highlighted in reference with the slogan ‘Environment cannot be compromised for the sake of Development, but Development cannot be stopped in the name of Environment’. “We are all collectively responsible to protect and preserve the nature for the present and the future generation,” said Deo Nukhu, the parliamentary secretary for Higher Education & SCERT who graced the workshop as the chief guest. He said that environment awareness is a new concept in Nagaland and the implications of random burning of forests, cutting down of trees and hunting were not realized until recently. However, in today’s context, he feels that education and the educated youth can go a long way in propagating the need to conserve nature. Asserting that having a greener goal is the need of the hour, he pointed to the need of educating the people living in rural areas and called upon the students to spread the importance of conservation of the environment. Nukhu expressed appreciation to administrative authorities for their role in conservation by imposing ban on hunting, jungle burning and other practices that are harmful to the environment. While remarking that many people consider jhum cultivation which is a major agriculture activity in the northeast India as an environmental concern, the parliamentarian stated that it is a part of Nagas’ traditional life and opined that the way in which the people cultivate is what matters. He said striking an ecological balance is a solution to this, and mentioned the practice of plantation of alder trees after cultivation, which is practiced by many organic farming villages like Khonoma, Zhavame etc. He also talked about the importance of recycling and segregation of wastes. Lamenting that these practices are yet to be realized in the state, he said, “We are living in a place where no one cares about rules- what we must and must not do”. Commissioner & secretary for Higher & Technical Education, FP Solo in his address said the topic of the occasion may appear ordinary but when you ponder into it, it is too relevant and significant. He considered that colleges are the best forum for treating the environment towards sustainable development. He asked the gathering to deliberate whether the development module that the state is following is sustainable or not and to devise to work towards leaving a legacy for the future generations. Earlier, delivering the welcome address, director for Higher Education, C Khalong explained that the objective of the workshop was to educate the students so that they can bring about positive changes to the Naga society. He encouraged the gathering to come together as a whole in developing a sustainable environment. Kohima Law College assistant professor, T Limanochet Jamir and City Law College Dimapur assistant professor, Niksungla were the resource persons of the workshop. Leadership, Waste Management, Water and Climate Change were the topics that were covered.