In a welcoming step, the Lotha community in Mokokchung will undertake cleaning activities at the town center and construct park benches in the town park on Saturday, June 22, starting from 6 am onward. This initiative, according to Mhonjan Kithan, General Secretary of the Lotha Hoho Mokokchung, was proposed by ADC Mokokchung, Chumlamo Humtsoe.
Kithan mentioned that the community plans to install approximately two benches.
Talking to Mokokchung Times, ADC Chumlamo Humtsoe said, “As an administrator of Mokokchung town, I am involved in managing sanitation and cleanliness drives. So, I challenged our community to participate.”
“We also have a good number, so I urged them to devote at least one to two hours to cleaning our town. They happily accepted our challenge, and we decided to undertake these activities this Saturday,” he said.
When asked if this initiative was a first-time effort, ADC Chumlamo Humtsoe said, “I was told, in the early 2000s, an MLA donated funds to the Lotha Community, leading to a similar social work initiative. However, this time, we are not only cleaning but also segregating different types of waste. It feels like after a long time, such an effort is happening.”
Regarding whether he believes this sends a positive message of inclusivity among Mokokchung citizens, Humtsoe added, “I have also conveyed the message to other communities like the Tenyimias to undertake similar activities. Once we do it and share it in the media, I hope it will inspire other communities to come forward too. The MMC alone cannot manage waste and cleanliness in the town. Each of us should dedicate one to two hours to cleaning our own town.”
“Wherever we live, this is our home, and it is our duty to keep it clean,” emphasized ADC Humtsoe.
According to Kithan, there are about 400 members in the Lotha Hoho Mokokchung, including 130 households. Only 8 households are permanent settlers in Mokokchung town.