MCR & JACAOA get Governor’s award conservation and mitigation of social ills
(Left) Langachu and Tinokumzuk receiving Governor's Gold Medal Certificate 2020 for Excellence in Conservation and Protection of Environment on behalf of Masiku Community Reserve (MCR) Forest, Noksen. (Right) Moba Konyak and Dr. Chenjei Konyak receiving the Governor's ‘Creating Awareness and Mitigating of Social Ills' award on behalf of JACAOA, Tobu from Governor RN Ravi on January 26. (Morung Photos)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 26
Masiku Community Reserve (MCR) and Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACAOA) have been conferred with the award of Governor's Gold Medal Certificate 2020 for Excellence in - Conservation and Protection of Environment; and Creating Awareness and Mitigating of Social Ills.
The special awards were handed by RN Ravi during the Governor’s “At Home” programme on the occasion of 71st Republic Day at Raj Bhavan Kohima.
About MCR, Noksen
Masiku Community Reserve Forest is located in Noksen village at a distance of 65 Km from the district headquarter of Tuensang.
It was conceived in the late eighties with the intention to mitigate the problem of declining population of the Sambar Deer due to various reasons prevalent around the time. The community reserve, with an area of about 350 hectares, is protected within a geographic territory of Noksen village and, provides protection for stag ( Sambar deer) as well as several other species including barking deer, wild boar, Civet Cat, leopard cat, mongoose, flying squirrel, slow loris, porcupine, etc. Its habitat comprises of hills, riverine areas and grasslands. Owing to the rich in flora and fauna, the Masiku community reserve has now become an eco-tourism destination.
Conservation activities started in the late 1980s with the concerted effort of the Noksen village council and its citizens. The Noksen village council and the Mupong Sangi Muthen wholeheartedly resolved to preserve the Masiku Lishet (area/region) as a community reserve in order to provide protection and shelter for the endangered stag (Sambar) from hunting and poaching. The main challenge faced by the Masiku community reserve is the decrease in the deer’s population due to hunting by the neighbouring villages located around Mokshem river (Dikhu river) when they migrate across the river for food/mating especially during winter season.
At present, this forest reserve is managed by the Noksen Community Reserve Management Committee.
In recognition of the tireless effort and outstanding contribution towards conservation and protection of environment, the Governor's Gold Medal Certificate 2020 with a Plague and cash award of Rs. 1 lakh was given to Noksen Village Council.
Langachu, Village Council Chairman, Noksen Village and Tinokumzuk, Chairman Mashiku Reserve Committee, received on behalf of the village community.
About JACAOA
Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACAOA), Tobu with the motto, "Tend Until Addicted to Constructive" was formed in 2014 by few like-minded student leaders of Tobu area. The villages in the Indo-Myanmar border areas had been rampantly and tenaciously affected by the opium addiction problem for many decades.
So, the primary objective of JACAOA is to combat against the widespread mass addiction to opium in these international border areas. Until then, no such significant concerted initiative was attempted due to lack or means and resources.
The JACAOA with the technical support of the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and the Community mobilized fund started on 30 September 2015, the first ever Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) for the Oral Users (opium addicts) in the State.
The Programme has been implemented in phases with the support of the Village Councils and the Students Unions in the Indo-Myanmar border region of Tobu area and some parts of Chen area.
505 number of addicts have been treated so far under this programme where 110 clients had completed the treatment successfully and have been integrated back with their family and society assuming different roles and responsibilities.
The programme has also been supported by the Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) under BADP 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Recovery and livelihood support the recovering clients have also been made an integral part of the Programme implementation. The total interruption in the cultivation and supply of opium in the region and the emergence of an amicable social environment within the village are indicative of the positive impacts of the programme upon the society.
In recognition of the continuous effort and outstanding contribution towards creating awareness and social ills, the Governor's Gold Medal Certificate 2020 with a plaque and cash award of Rs. 1 lakh was awarded to JACAOA.
