EMN
Kohima, November 29
A first of its kind award distribution ceremonyfor Kohima’s top ten cleanest schools 2013 was held at the Platinum Hall, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Headquarter today, G Rio School, Kohima emerged as the overall topper.
Mrs.Kaisa Rio, wife of the Honourable Chief Minister, Nagaland chief guest on the occasion acknowledging the NBCC Kohima Environmentand Sanitation for leading the way hoped that through concerted efforts, thecommon dream of seeing a beautiful, clean and green Kohima would be realizedand the move would cover the whole state.
Stating that school is the best platform and students the most potent group, she hoped that the winning schools would continue to live upto their image and motivate and be agents of change. Appreciating the NBCC Environment andSanitation wing for spearheading the move for social transformation, she calledfor solidarity to bring about change.
Dwelling on the maxim’ Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ shethanked the church for imparting knowledge and skills, civic sense which needsto be practiced and ingrained in everyone while adding that it needs theparticipation of each individual, family, community and society to decide whattype of society we want to live in and the legacy to be carried forward.
Ruing that with urbanisation, the state capital has seen anever increase in population and thereby surmounting problem of garbage and dirt, which we have become perhaps‘immune’ to, she said that negative impact of it on the environment and potent health hazards should be realized. Shewas optimistic that all hope is not lost, as there are people, consciousand involved in the sanitation drive, who are fighting this ‘enormous battle’.
Chairman, Kohima Environment & Sanitation Kuolachalie Seyie chaired the programme. Seyie introducing the programme said that thefirst of its kind sanitation drive in the schools has been designed to createawareness among the student community, knowing that children are the future andinculcating civic sense would go a long way. Churches and colleges of Kohimawould be the next target, he added.
Mrs.Elizabeth Ngully, Member Secretary, Kohima Environment& Sanitation & CEO KMC giving a power point presentation on thecleanliness status assessment, which would now be an annual feature said that outof the 47 high/higher secondary schools in Kohima, 20 were shortlisted aftersurprise follow up visits and thereafter the top ten cleanest schools emerged.
Rev.Dr.Anjo Keikung, general secretary, NBCC delivering thekeynote address said that a beginning has been made from Kohima and the need isthere to reach out to the state in general.He reminded that it is not a competition but an awareness to recreatethe land God has blessed us with.
Er.Kevisekho Kruse, Joint Secretary, Kohima Environment& Sanitation & Chief Engineer, PHED said that despite positive strides, the challenge for keeping the city clean on a sustainable basis continues to behuge and complex. So sensing the complexity, the NBCC came forward and amongother things continued to beautify the capital city with flower pots at trafficislands, providing dustbins to shops and conducting periodic social work. He added that homes and schools were the bestplaces to impart and educate, for ripple effect on the masses.
The programme which began with invoking God’s blessings byMrs.Bohotoli, Secretary, Education and Communication, NBCC was attended by a hostof dignitaries including senior government, NBCC, AMK officials, churchsanitation leaders, participants from each of the 47 highersecondary/high schools, special invitees and media.
The NBCC Kohima Environment and Sanitation collaborated withKMC, KCCI, KVC, ASU, UDD, PHED, KYO, Panchayats and IRCS (K) along with Kohimachurches.
