DIMAPUR:
Ronika Miachieo, a graduate of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, has earned laurels for beautifying three undesignated dumping plots at Ward number 5 under Burma Camp, Dimapur, under the green awareness campaign and cleanliness drive.
“My aim is to see Dimapur and Nagaland clean and green so that everyone can breathe fresh air and live a healthy life. I am passionate about our environment and would like to positively contribute to society,” she said, as Nicky Kire, adviser to state Urban Development and Tovihoto Ayemi, adviser to Power, unveiled the three beautified sites on February 4.
With help from a pastor, the 35-year-old resident of Kohima also decorated the walls with paintings and inspirational quotes such as “Together let’s keep our colony clean” and “It’s a collective responsibility to keep the environment green”, among others.
She funded her initiative by supplying spices, books, stationaries and medicines to underprivilege families and students in Dimapur and other places in Nagaland. She also sold homemade pickles in other Northeastern states.
The initial years of her journey was difficult as no one helped her. “I am happy to see people, government departments and the Dimapur Municipal Council offering a helping hand now,” she added.
Notably, Miachieo cleaned a 900-feet long clogged drain that used to flood the Walford area during the monsoon and converted an undesignated dumping ground into a mini-park in 2020.