ITANAGAR, 3 Oct: Governor KT Parnaik participated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas celebration at the state banquet hall here on 2 October, and felicitated the ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa 2025’ awardees.
Earlier in the morning, governor, accompanied by the Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries, paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary at Gandhi Udyan in Niti Vihar, as students of Rajiv Gandhi University’s music department recited Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan, ‘Vaishnav Jan To’.
In his address, the governor said that Gandhi’s vision was rooted in simplicity, humility, and truth. “His timeless principles of truth, non-violence, and harmony remain the moral compass for a world increasingly divided by conflict and intolerance,” he said.
The governor said that for Gandhi, cleanliness went beyond personal hygiene. It meant respecting oneself, one’s surroundings, and one’s community. Gandhi believed that no society could call itself progressive if it cannot keep its environment clean, Parnaik said.
The governor said that this vision has been carried forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which has transformed national attitudes toward hygiene and sanitation. “The campaign has built lakhs of toilets, reduced open defecation, and spread awareness even to remote villages. While this is a remarkable achievement, the campaign needs to be transformed into a habit,” Parnaik said.
Highlighting the challenges of Arunachal Pradesh, the governor pointed to rapid urbanization, population growth, and plastic waste as pressing concerns. He stressed that waste management cannot be left only to government bodies, and that it requires every citizen to take responsibility.
Presenting the Swachhata Award 2025, the governor congratulated the awardees for their outstanding work in cleanliness and sanitation. Their achievements, he said, are shining examples of how individuals can transform society when they take responsibility.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, recalling how their ideals and values continue to guide the nation.
The chief minister praised the youths of Arunachal for their active role in the Swachh Bharat Mission, noting their self-driven efforts to clean towns, rivers, schools, and villages. Their commitment, he said, reflects the true spirit of service and responsibility towards society.
Chief Secretary Manish Gupta and Urban Affairs Commissioner Vivek Pandey also spoke.
Urban Affairs Minister Balo Raja, local MLA Techi Kaso, IMC Mayor Tamme Phassang, DGP Anand Mohan, Urban Affairs Secretary Nyali Ete, and a host of invitees participated in the programme.
Swachh Bharat Diwas 2025 was jointly organized by the Directorate of Urban & Local Bodies and Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department. An audiovisual presentation and a brief report were presented on ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa (SHS) 2025, Arunachal’ during the programme.
Nocte Mother Federation, Khonsa, Numai SHG, Hawai, Samavaya SHG, Roing, Neli Puak Gumin SHG, Aalo, Manchi SHG, Bomdila, Benny Bene SHG, Kimin, Mingge-Bona SHG, Ayeng village, Pasighat, New Light Foundation, Khonsa, AI Green Foundation-Roing Green Initiative, Roing, Swacchata Warrior, Boleng, Azure Lotus Foundation, Dirang, and B Sector Women’s Committee, Doimukh received the best swachhata NGOs/SHGs awards.
Pasighat Municipal Council, East Siang, and District Urban Development Agency, Yupia, Doimukh division, Papum Pare received the award for ‘Transformation of cleanliness target units’; Pasighat Municipal Council, East Siang and District Urban Development Agency, Khonsa received the award for ‘Clean public spaces’;District Urban Development Agency, Changlang, and District Urban Development Agency, Longding received the award for ‘Advocacy for swachhata’; and District Urban Development Agency, Anjaw and District Urban Development Agency, Yupia, Doimukh division received the award for safai mitra suraksha shivirs under Swachhata Award 2025 – Urban.
PHE&WS division, Basar, Leparada, and PHE&WS division, Roing, Lower Dibang Valley received the award for ‘Transformation of cleanliness target units’; PHE&WS division, Pasighat, East Siang, and PHE&WS division, Changlang received the award for clean public spaces; and PHE&WS division, Pasighat, East Siang, and PHE&WS division, Sangram, Kurung Kumey received the award for Safai Mitra suraksha shivirs under Swachhata Award 2025 – Grameen.
Dirang Market Welfare Association, Bazar Welfare Committee Palin, Aalo Old Bazaar Committee, Pasighat Market Association, and district horticulture office, Pasighat received the best swachhata partner organization/bazaar welfare group awards.
Twenty-five individuals received the sanitation workers award under the Swachh Bharat Mission (urban) from the Urban Affairs Department for their sincerity and dedication in cleanliness efforts. (Raj Bhavan)
