Watershed Yatra (Campaign) PMKSY-WDC 2.0 under Department of Land Resources, initiated under the aegis of RD Ministry, Government of India reached Surumi Village, Zunheboto district on 20th February 2025.
During the event, Consultant, DoLR, RD Ministry GoI, Devendra Singh Dhapola, while addressing the campaign held at Surumi village community hall, highlighted on the main purposes and objectives of the Yatra, which were to create awareness and disseminate information about the responsibilities of maintaining our environment for the future. He further added that the programme was earlier inaugurated on 5th February, 2025, by Minister for Rural Development & Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at Delhi for all the states in India for 60 days, and a 20-day Yatra specifically for Nagaland.
Furthermore, he urged people to learn how to conserve rainwater and stressed that JJM and Watershed are directly or indirectly linked with each other.
He also encouraged coffee plantation as a potential livelihood and cash crop and urged the state to open a Nagaland Coffee Cafe in Delhi to promote and boost the economy. He cited an example from Uttarakhand, where a person can face up to 10 years in jail for cutting even a single tree without proper permission, and urged the state to use firewood judiciously. He suggested alternative ways of using rocket chullas to reduce the extensive use of firewood.
Later, Additional Director, LRD, Hekato N, while delivering his speech said we should practice plantation of new saplings subsequent of cutting down of trees. He concluded by exhorting on the importance of water in our livelihood and judicious usage of it.
Speaker from ATMA, Dr Hutoka Jakha highlighted that, Nagaland was lacking in the production of winter vegetables and stressed alternative methods like drip irrigation for production of crops such as cabbages and cardamoms. He further pointed out that, landholding system causes significant challenges in irrigation, with some land left idle. He explained that without forests, there will be no water sources, as there are no trees or grass to recharge groundwater.
District Project Officer, Land Resources, Zunheboto, I. Acato Chishi, while delivering his keynote address, emphasized that, the main aim of the yatra is to raise public awareness and encourage informed citizenship. Over exploitation of natural resources is detrimental, driven by human greed, and encouraged sustainable practices to replenish our natural resources. "Without water, life on Earth will cease, this yatra is for our survival”, he stated.
Earlier in the programme, Watershed Development Team member, Kheshito Awomi chaired the event, which began with an invocation by Pastor, Surumi Baptist Church, Mughalu Swu and followed by a short speech, delivered by, Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland Watershed Icon, Ilihika Aye. The event further witnessed folk song performances by Surumi GBs and coffee planters, street plays by the Mushroom Group and SHG Surumi Village. The programme concluded with a Van Activity (AR Experience) and Shramdaan activities.
(DPRO Zunheboto)
