Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 17 (EMN): A Swachata programme-cum-curtain raiser for ‘International Yoga Day’ was organised at Japfü Christian College (JCC) in Kigwema village under Kohima district for the National Service Scheme (NSS) members on May 14.
Delivering the keynote address during the first session, Zeneikho-o Pfukha, state NSS officer, informed that Swacchata is one of the mandates and flagship programme of NSS under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The programme, he said, was organised to discuss on plastic waste management, effective disposal of plastic waste, use of dustbin, open defecation-free (ODF) and safe disposal of waste (bio and non-bio- degradable materials) and develop action plan for conducting further related activities at own institutions for the academic year 2022-2023.
Speaking on the theme "Waste management,” Mezhüvi Thorie, assistant professor of JCC, briefed the gathering on overall process of effective waste management and cited examples on how wastes are generated globally due to developmental activities.
Mentioning how waste is generated and managed in a well-organised manner in developed countries, he highlighted the common practice of burning waste in the open air and landfills in Nagaland. Stressing about the limitations of such practices and the resultant effects, Thorie encouraged the students to “re-think, refuse, reduce, re-use and recycle” the waste generated.
The speaker reminded the student volunteers not to only focus on recycling waste, but on up-cycling the waste meaning to creatively reuse it by transforming the waste generated.
He further encouraged the participants to change their perception on waste and to come out from the conventional mindset of waste management and become agents of change by educating people around them on the importance of proper and effective waste management.
Later, a cleanliness drive was carried out as part of community voluntary service at Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) monolith area near Heritage Village, Kisama.
In the second season, the youngsters also observed activity on common yoga protocol practice as part of countdown/ curtain raiser to International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Kelhouzasie Lawrence, yoga instructor from AYUSH Mission gave a demonstration on basic yoga practices and breathing techniques for over an hour.
It was informed that the curtain raiser programme was carried out in different parts of the country.
The Swachata programme was organised by NSS Cell under department of Youth Resources and Sports, in collaboration with JCC, while the yoga event was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) Nagaland.
The events were organised for 100 NSS volunteers from eight institutions namely JCC, St. Joseph’s College (A), Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kros College, Model Christian College, Modern College, Capital College of Higher Education and Kohima Science College (A).