In its continued effort to foster sustainable green environment, the Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission joined in observation of the UN Decade on ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ (2021-2030), a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea on this year’s World Environment Day, 5th June 2021.

            With about90 % of the rural population of the State being dependent on forest and its natural resources, it is pertinent to stress on protecting and enhancing the State’s rich biodiversity. While deforestation poses a major threat for the rural population the need for creating awareness on this pressing issues become much more significant. Issues related to forest management, restoration of degraded land, clearing of drainage system and promoting plastic free environment needs to be reiterated and addressed at all community level.

            In this backdrop, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, the SHGs in coordination with the Village Functionaries continued to bring together the communities towards the annual World Environment Day celebration of preserving and enhancing the natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, and focus on a pressing environmental issues in the respective villages across the State on 5th June 2021.

In coordination with the Village Council, Student, teachers and Church leaders, the Self Help Group (SHG) members from 1245 villages across State actively engaged the communities in the event. From carrying out major cleanliness drive at the village, reviving and renovating old water ways, clearing water ways to ensure safer drinking water for the community, collecting waste including plastic waste for dumping at the designated area, hundreds of tree plantation drive, clearing pipelines to planting flowers along the village road.

In consonance with the moto of NSRLM ‘Empowering Women, Transforming Lives’ and echoing the tenets of the Global World Environment initiatives, the SHGs pledges to build on and scale in fostering the protection and enhancing of their environment throughout the year. The selfless efforts of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has been appreciated by the local bodies who continues to provide constant support and encouragement to the Self-Help Group (SHG)across the State at every step.

Source: Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Department of Rural Development

                                                                                                            (DIPR)