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Citizens of Pughoboto load debris and waste onto a truck during the sanitation work on September 29.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 29 (EMN): The monsoon this year was unlike the seasons that Nagaland was used to as before, or anything such in recent memory. The initial stages of the season brought in heavy rains, which in turn led to geographical displacement and inundation; landslides and floods destroyed property, blocked important roadways and vital bridges, besides taking about a dozen lives.
It was on Saturday that the Nagaland government machinery and the state’s civil community took to cleaning urban areas and infrastructure as part of a state-wide sanitation campaign across the state. Government officers, community leaders, and citizens worked to clear urban areas, roadways and drains during the ‘restoration works.’ Eastern Mirror brings to you updates.
In Zunheboto district, work started in all the colonies by 6:00 am. Gaon Bura and ward chairmen led residents and supervised the work, the government’s bulletin IPR stated in updates on Sep. 29. The district’s administration monitored the work.
The ‘Swachata’ pledge will be taken on September 30 in all the churches in Zunheboto, the DIPR stated. On October 1, “social work”—or more precisely, sanitation and cleanliness work—will be conducted in all government and private schools from 8:00 am. Awards will be given to the top three best-participating schools. They will be assessed on the parameters of ‘dustbin availability and maintenance, cleanliness of the compound, beautification, participation of students, and availability of separate toilets and cleanliness,’ the DIPR stated. On October 2, government offices and premises will be cleaned, the DIPR stated.
In Wokha, the district’s administration and Wokha Town Council led the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ drive. Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and legislator Dr. Chumben Murry also took part in the event. The event will be conducted from September 29 till the 2nd of October. Three cleanest colonies will be selected based on their performance and will be awarded during a programme on October 2.
Y Patton spoke during the commencement of the community work. He said that the Nagaland government will be providing incentives to the districts that ‘maintain cleanliness,’ the DIPR updates stated. The minister expressed worry that Nagaland ‘may be the dirtiest state which is nothing to be proud of.’ He attributed that tag to increased pollution and diseases occurring in the state. Therefore ‘we need to introspect ourselves and applied self dignity to keep our environment/surrounding clean which will also help minimize global warming,’ the DIPR quoted the minister.
The minister also informed that the district will very soon be enforcing a ban on tobacco-related products too.
Dr. Chumben Murry also spoke during the event. He said, ‘We are living in an age of globalization and with this globalization we are witnessing development even to the remotes area. Cleanliness is also one of the areas where physical cleanliness increases the volume of physical wellbeing.’ When citizens keep their surroundings and environment clean, their general wellbeing is also becomes healthier. Dr. Murry has called upon the people of the district to keep their environment clean.
The deputy commissioner of Wokha Dr.Manazir Jeelani Samoon, who also spoke during the function, said Nagaland experienced a serious monsoon situation with landslides and floods occurring in many parts of the state.
In Kiphire too, citizens of the district joined in the community work. In Tuensang, deputy commissioner L Jamithung Lotha launched the Swachhata Hi Seva on September 29. In Phek, the district observed a program with the theme “town cleanliness and beautification drive,’ which was jointly organised by the Phek Town Council, DDMA with Phek Town Youth Society.
In Mokokchung, the Swachh Bharat programme was held at Imlong Place at 6:00 am on September 29. Brand Ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Supongmeren, flagged off the programme in the presence of the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Sachin Jaiswal and district ambassador of the mission, Bendangnukshi.
Speaking on the occasion, the brand ambassador thanked all the participants and called upon the people to work together and celebrate the day by cleaning their towns and villages. He maintained that it was the responsibility of all citizens to keep a clean environment; nature has given enough to mankind and therefore, the DIPR quoted him as having said, ‘It is time we give something in return by cleaning the surroundings’ to make the world a better place to live in.
Supongmeren said, “Mokokchung being branded the ‘land of pioneers’ by the state government, why not take another new step for land of cleanliness.”
In Pughoboto, citizens cleared weeds along the main roads and cleared clogged drains in their colonies.The community work was initiated by the community’s leaders. Students and members of educational institutions swept the streets in the town. The Adhoc Town Council of Pughoboto took the responsibility of deposing the garbage and waste by providing vehicles, the DIPR stated.
Also, Medziphema Sub-Division participated in the Swacchata Hi Seva on 29th September at local ground Medziphema in commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The inaugural programme for the mass social work was graced by the Deputy Speaker NLA, Zhaleo Rio IAS (Retd).
Zhaleo Rio exhorted the people to work for a ‘clean and green’ Nagaland and rebuild the state ‘to higher level.’ He praised the administration and the public and various organizations for their participation. He urged the citizens to conduct a sanitation campaign and publicity programs concerning making the environment healthy.
The DIPR also gave updates about the sanitation event in other parts of the state such as Longkhim, Tening, Jalukie town, Bhandari, Pfutsero, Tseminyu.
In continuing with the fortnightly national campaign of the Swachhata Hi Seva for the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s (ADC) establishment of Nuiland, a programme was conducted in collaboration with the department of Public Health Education the sub division on September 29.
Minister of the PHE, Jacob Zhimomi presented an ‘implementation report’ which highlighted some of the activities of the flagship programme since 2014 when the Swatch Bharat Mission was launched.
‘The way forward from here will be sustained through community approach to sanitation (CAS) method which has been found to be an effective tool with huge success,” Zhimomi said adding that rates for Open Defecation Free (ODF) districts or states in the country should have local leaders to facilitate the behavioural change by involving the public to share their ideas and benefits of adopting good sanitation practises.’
It was informed that this was initiated on 24th September 2018 by launching the ‘Swachagrahis’ or ‘foot soldiers’ to propagate the message of sanitation by the department where 180 trained ‘Swachagrahis’ were sent out.
Under the SBM (G), the department has worked ceaselessly to eliminate open defecation, eradicate manual scavenging, and facilitate modern and scientific methods of waste management as well as educating the mass on health and hygiene.
In this regard, PHED Dimapur Rural Division has built individual household toilets, community sanitary complexes, kilns and chimneys to burn wastes, drains to manage liquid waste and stationing dustbins in many villages under it.
Zhimomi lauded the department for its efforts on “trying times” and also for achieving the target before October 2 which is the nation’s target to declare India as ODF. He further added that development is not just about concrete structures but a civilized lifestyle where good sanitation practises become a part of our living.
