Weiloi, Thainthynroh and Mawkynrew villages were awarded as the top three best performing villages from the Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP) during the World Environment Day celebration held in Shillong today.
The villages through their Village Natural Resource Management Committees were bestowed with awards in three different categories. Weiloi won the best performance in social inclusion and community participation award, Thainthynroh for best performance in increase in forest cover and foliage and. Mawkynrew for best performance in successful implementation of natural resource management activities.
Awards were also given to villages from Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Market Project (MLAMP). These were Kyiem IVCS for best performance in successful implementation of integrated village co-operative societies, Laityra CMC for best performance in successful implementation of collective marketing centre and. Mawkohmon for best performance in successful implementation of INRM (Integrated Natural resource Management).
The function was organised by the office of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, District Project Management Unit (DPMU), and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) at Don Bosco Hall, Laitumkhrah.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo informed that the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board will be implementing the “Say No to single use plastic” and urged the students to inculcate the habit of saying no to single use plastic, which is detrimental to the environment. She also stressed on the need for scientific waste disposal management, which would reduce the impact on the environment.
Lauding the efforts of all stakeholders who had taken part in a series of environmental activities throughout the week to commemorate the Meghalaya Environment Week she appreciated the active participation of school students in various competitions organised by the office.
She emphasised that the knowledge and awareness expressed by the school students through various mediums is vital as they are the future.
Stating that Environment Day is not to be celebrated only one day in a year rather we should make a commitment in celebrating Environment Day every day, hence the district administration have come up with policies and ideas to involve the communities, schools, colleges, religious leaders in creating awareness and carry out activities which will benefit the environment.
She also expressed hope that the participants in the programme will sensitize and pass on the message to others about the active participation of each of us in keeping the environment clean and safe. She exhorted that only the government initiatives are not enough to protect the environment but a collective effort by each individual is the need of the hour.
Laloo also stated that development comes at the cost of the environment and the theme for this year’s Environment Day Only One Earth “Living Sustainably in Harmony with nature”, aims to ensure that development goes hand in hand with a sustainable and healthy environment.
During the day the Deputy Commissioner also handed awards and certificates to the winners of the Drawing Competition, Essay Writing Competition and Debate Competition organised by the office.
