The Government Upper Primary School or GUPS in the remote Lumpo village, nestled within the Zemithang circle, approximately 107 kilometres from Tawang headquarters, has embarked on a remarkable mission to make their village plastic-free.
Behind this inspiring initiative is GUPS Headmaster Dorjee Neema, whose determination to combat plastic pollution in the pristine landscapes of their region has been unwavering. Reflecting on the genesis of the mission, Neema shared, “It was my mission to get rid of plastic waste, which is a menace to our environment and pollutes our beautiful and virgin landscapes.”
Neema commenced the campaign by raising awareness among his students about the detrimental impacts of plastic waste on the environment. Together with his students, he initiated clean-up drives to collect plastic waste scattered across the village. Despite initial skepticism from the locals, Neema remained resolute in his efforts. “The people remarked that a teacher collecting wastes was a waste of time,” he recalled.
The steadfast dedication of Neema did not go unnoticed. Dehla, an elderly resident of Lumpo village, observed Neema’s relentless commitment and one day, presented him with a substantial bundle of plastic waste, showing her support for his cause. This gesture served as a catalyst, further fuelling Neema’s mission. In recognition of her contribution, the elderly woman was later felicitated by the school.
Neema’s commitment to environmental conservation led him to conduct a field trip for his students to the Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community, where they were exposed to a plastic waste recycling plant and witnessed the transformation of recycled plastic into various products.
Inspired by what they saw, the students took it upon themselves to lead the collection of plastic waste in their village, assuming responsibility for keeping their surroundings plastic-free.
Every morning, Neema, along with 30 to 40 hostel boarders from the school, embarks on a plastic waste collection drive during their morning walks. Additionally, boarders who spend weekends at home contribute by bringing plastic waste from their households. To encourage active participation, the school felicitates the individual, who collects the most plastic waste.
The collected plastic waste is then sent to the Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community for recycling, contributing to the larger goal of creating a sustainable and plastic-free environment in Lumpo village.
