Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 26 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has appealed to the people of Nagaland to join in a cleanliness drive across the state to ‘restore’ damaged infrastructure besides clearing roads and drains. The community work would be from Sep. 29 to Oct. 2, updates said.
The chief minister stated in a promotional message on Wednesday: ‘Nagaland will observe mass social work from Sep. 29 to October 2 2018 for restoration of damaged infrastructure and improving drainage, culverts, and roads, in all districts and ADC headquarters to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as is being observed as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. I call upon all to join in this endeavour and help rebuild Nagaland.’
In a similar cleanliness event, the Kohima administration and municipal authorities took part in the ‘Swachhagrahion Ke Swachhagrahi: Ek Se Anek’ Diwas, a nationwide mass-social work in all the villages in India. The Kohima district water and sanitation mission of the PHED and the district’s administration organised a “mass social work” at Kisama Naga Heritage Village, with villagers from Kigwema and Phesama villages on September 25.
The deputy commissioner of Kohima Rajesh Soundararajan, who was the special guest, launched the community work.
The event is a part of the national cleanliness campaign ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’—Hindi for ‘cleanliness is service ; or ‘service to the people through cleanliness’—initiated by the ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
The campaign aims to accelerate the momentum of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in the run up to its fourth anniversary which was started in 2nd October 2014. This campaign will also coincide with the commencement of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth year celebration with a nationwide campaign. It looks to re-energise the citizen’s movement and lay down the foundation of personal and community hygiene sustainability, while also aiming to reinforce the concept of “sanitation is everyone’s business”.
Govt. appeals
In view of the proposed community work throughout the state from Sep. 29 to Oct. 2 culminating with Swachh Bharat Day 2018 on Oct. 2, the Nagaland government has appealed all departments, contractors; community and tribal organisations, non-governmental organisations, etc., to participate. It informed that available machineries, vehicles, manpower, will be made available to the district administration for assistance. Further, it informed that required fuel would be provided by the administration.
The chief minister of the state will lead the work at Kohima. Elected members will participate in their respective district and area, updates from the department of Information and Public Relations informed on Wednesday.
