An Information Education Communication awareness program cum training on waste segregation and plastic waste management was conducted on 8 September at Town Hall Zunheboto. The event was organised by the NGO Living for Environment (LiFE) in collaboration with Zunheboto Town Council.

Niksungla, the founder and chairman of LiFE, gave a talk as the resource person of the program. Speaking on waste segregation, she said throwing of waste affects the air, soil, water, animals and especially our health. She talked about the top global waste streams such as food, plastic and electronic waste and stated that the US Public Health Service has identified 22 diseases caused by waste. Niksungla further underlined the harmful effects of plastic on pregnant women, pointing out that plastic could lead to a variety of health conditions such as allergies, diabetes and cancer among others.

Niksungla stated that waste has become a problem in Nagaland too because of excessive use of plastic and local top waste streams like disposables, sanitary waste, pet bottles and tetra pack. Stressing that everyone should be responsible for their own waste and not depend solely on the Town Council, she encouraged the gathering to keep the vision ‘My waste, my responsibility’ and to consider, as an alternative to disposal, adopting the ideas of Recovery, Recycling, Reuse, Reduction and Prevention.

Earlier in the program, the welcome address was given by Moakumzuk Tzudir, Administrator Zunheboto Town Council. The program was chaired by Tavinto Chishi, President Green Club, while the invocation prayer was pronounced by Agape Chishi, Youth Pastor SBCZ.