PHED Nagaland concludes Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign with awards for sanitation champions and ODF Plus Model Villages, followed by tree plantation and cleanliness drives.
DIMAPUR — The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Nagaland, observed Swachh Bharat Diwas and the culmination of the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign at the Office of the Chief Engineer, PHED, Kohima, on Friday.
According to a DIPR report, the programme was attended by Jacob Zhimomi, Minister for Public Health Engineering and Cooperation, as the guest of honour, along with the Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, PHED, senior officers of the department, officials from the directorate and field divisions, and representatives of other departments and organisations.
The SHS 2026 campaign was observed from September 17 to October 2 on the theme, “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat.”
During the campaign, PHED divisions across the state undertook a range of activities focusing on community participation, cleanliness, waste management, youth engagement and the welfare of sanitation workers.
As part of the culmination programme, awards were presented under two categories—Swachhata Champion and Best Performing ODF Plus Model Village.
Congratulating the awardees, Zhimomi said sanitation must remain a lifelong priority requiring continuous strengthening and renewed efforts to ensure that its benefits reach even the remotest villages of the state.
He said Nagaland was moving in the right direction and called for greater coordination among divisional offices to realise the vision of a Swachh Bharat.
He also emphasised the need for behavioural change and a shift in people's mindset, stating that such changes were essential for the State to progress and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The campaign featured several innovative initiatives across the state.
In Dimapur Rural, waste-to-wealth activities saw discarded materials transformed into useful products, including plastic bricks, recycled tyre furniture, brooms, flower beds and cloth bags. A discarded motorcycle was also converted into a waste collection vehicle.
In Tuensang, medical camps were organised for Safai Mitras and sanitation workers, providing preventive health check-ups.
In Medziphema, students participated in cleanliness activities, learnt to make bamboo dustbins and were encouraged to take up the role of Swachhata Ambassadors.
Noklak organised a community tug of war to promote teamwork, community responsibility and awareness of four-way waste segregation, while Phek conducted a cleanliness and awareness drive at Glory Peak to promote clean and sustainable tourism.
The programme concluded with appreciation for PHED divisions, village councils, WATSAN committees, sanitation workers, schools, youth groups and citizens who contributed to the successful conduct of SHS 2026.
The event was followed by a tree plantation and cleanliness drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative.