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KOHIMA — Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC) won the award for the best performing urban local bodies (ULB), which was declared on Wednesday.
The best resourceful ULB was awarded to Medziphema Town Council (MTC), while the best transformed award was given to Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) and the best waste-to-art was conferred to Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
The awards were given away during the culmination of the state-level Swachhata Hi Seva held at the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima on Wednesday.
The culmination programme was jointly organised by Swachh Bharat Mission under Urban Development department and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen under Public Health Engineering department and Kohima Municipal Council.
Speaking at the programme, PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi called for a change in mindset towards cleanliness. He stated that cleanliness should be the responsibility of everybody.
“Nagaland may seemed lush green area to outsiders but considering the carelessness, the inhabitants in managing waste at homes and own kitchen, we are leaving carbon footprint behind. To create a sustainable and safe living environment, all must collectively put effort in addressing these challenges,” he said.
He has sought the shift of mindset from thinking that waste management and cleanliness are somebody else's responsibility. On the contrary, he stated that it should be a collective responsibility to bring about change in the society.
Speaking on the Swachh Bharat Mission, he that since its launching ten years back on October 2 2014, it has galvanised the entire country of 140 crore Indians into taking up cleanliness as a moral responsibility.
“Out of a total of 27,70,174 planned events across the country, it successfully completed 23,71,685 with a total public participation of 21,66,58,273 (21 crores) across India including Nagaland,” he informed.
He stated that the government's main intention was not only about constructing toilets but to impact and achieves quality life by managing human body waste and other waste management on all ODF declared villages.
“Safe environment, safe sanitation practices and secured lifestyle is the central government's target and the state is also working in those directions,” he added.
The third party assessment showed that construction of toilets lowered infant mortality rate with an estimate of 60,000-70,000 infant lives annually between 2011-2020. He also added crime rates have been reduced due to the novel mission.
As of September 30, he informed that Nagaland has a total of 747 total ODF plus villages, 406 total ODF plus model villages, 39 ODF plus rising villages and 302 ODF plus rising villages.
Kezhochole Rhetso, mission director of SBM-U, informed that various initiatives were undertaken during the two weeklong celebrations.
The activities included cleanliness drives, clearing of CTU, community engagement and volunteer drives, tree plantation, waste-to-art awareness campaign, poster and slogan competition etc.
The chief executive officer of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), T Lanusenla Longkumer, announced the winners of the poster competition, waste hunt and partners.
In the poster competition, first prize was won by Fenika of Bayavü Higher Secondary School, while Veidadu Reikhenamea of Mezhur Higher Secondary School and Thejalazo Sachü of Don Bosco Higher School won the second and third prizes respectively.
Consolation prizes were given to Lhoulievi Khana of Mezhur Higher Secondary School, Vithono Miasalhou of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School and Shahnaj Begum of Assam Rifles Public School.
In the Waste Hunt competition, Viketouzo and Group from NSS Unit of Kohima College won the first prize, while Manlem and Group from NSS Unit of Kohima College and NSS Unit of Don Bosco College won the second and third prizes respectively.
SHS culmination programme held in Dimapur
The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) also held a culmination programme of Swachhata Hi Seva-cum-award ceremony on Wednesday at Lion’s Club hall in Dimapur.
Speaking at the programme, the chairperson of DMC and special guest, Hukheto Yepthomi, stated that the initiative has brought together communities across the states with a shared vision for cleanliness.
He added that during the campaign, they have seen creativity and collaboration of school children, senior citizens, churches, shopkeepers and women, who have contributed towards transforming not only their surroundings but also their mindsets.
“It is a testament of collective works, every small act of cleanliness whether it is picking up the litters or spreading awareness has inculcated a lot of senses of responsibility in the Dimapur,” he stated.
He mentioned that Dimapur generated about 84 metric tons of waste daily as per the news report in 2023. In this regard, he called upon the public to remember the importance of cleanliness and managing waste.
The first prize in poster painting competition on the theme "Cleanliness of nature, cleanliness of culture” was awarded to Nandini Kumari of Neingulie Memorial High School, while Techaanrin of Lewis Academy Dimapur and Varshita Bothra of Lewis Academy were awarded second and third prizes respectively.
The winners of mini marathon and tug-of-war were also awarded during the event.