Cleanliness drives mark Gandhi Jayanti
ITANAGAR, Oct 2: Arunachal Pradesh paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 148th birth anniversary and organized cleanliness drives throughout the state on the occasion to promote Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The day also marked three years of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and culmination of the nationwide Swachhta Hi Seva campaign launched by the President to reignite the cleanliness movement.
Attending a state level advocacy workshop at Tawang to sensitize government officials, NGOs and stakeholders towards achieving 100 percent Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday announced to make Arunachal ODF by the end of the year.
The workshop was organized by PHED & WS Department under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), in culmination of the Swachhta Hi Seva campaign to commemorate the 148th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
He congratulated Tawang and West Siang districts for becoming the first and second ODF free districts respectively in the state and lauded the hard work of all stakeholders of both districts.
The Chief Minister said Sikkim is the only state in North East to achieve ODF free status, and Arunachal is eager to be the next.
The Chief Minister informed that over Rs 20 crore has been additionally allocated to the PHE & WS Department for the cleanliness mission.
Arunachal is the only state in India to allocate Rs 8000 from its treasury for IHHL in addition to its 10 percent share of Rs 1200 towards centre’s contribution of Rs 10800.
To encourage cleanliness in the state, the state government will also launch competition of cleanest district in the state, in addition to cleanest village in the district. The winners will be awarded during Statehood Day celebration every year, he said and lauded the achievement of Jirdin village in West Siang district for being awarded with cleanest village in the district.
Earlier, the Chief Minister unveiled the official logo and slogan of Swachh Arunachal Mission designed by Mijong Ripuk of Bolung village in Lower Dibang Valley.
He also launched the Swachh Arunachal YouTube channel showcasing short videos on cleanliness mission carried out by state PHE Department.
Pema also felicitated the award winners and performers in the field of Swachh Arunachal in the category of essay competition, film competition and painting competition.
Governor P B Acharya paid floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Niti Vihar Park, Itanagar on the occasion.
Officials and members of Urban Department, District Administration and Itanagar Municipal Council were preset on the occasion along with Raj Bhavan officers.
At Tezu: Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated by the Lohit District Administration by garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Chowk, which was led by Deputy Commissioner Karma Leki.
Major cleanliness drives were organized during the Swachhta Hi Seva fortnight throughout the district, including Parsuram Kund.
At Basar: Over 200 self help group women members of Gori Soi Neli Nengo Federation of Basar under the Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission held a swachhta rally to create awareness on importance of cleanliness, which was followed by a cleanliness drive in the village, covering the market area and hospital in Basar in observation of the Swachhta Pakhwada Evam Gram Samridhi.
At Itanagar: The Itanagar Market Welfare Association (IMWA) conducted social service at Ganga Market, Itanagar, which saw the participation of shopkeepers, entrepreneur and hoteliers.
The IMWA president highlighted the importance of clean and hygienic surroundings, and elaborated that garbage disposal and other waste material littered in market area can cause diseases to market commuters.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Seva Dal paid floral tributes to the decorated portraits of Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary and also organized cleanliness drive to mark the occasion.
The Itanagar SBI Regional Office carried out a cleanliness drive at the Gompa and its surrounding areas of Itanagar on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
All the staff from SBI Regional Business office, Itanagar and other branches of the bank in Itanagar took part in the cleanliness drive.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) celebrated the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan here on Monday and paid floral tributes to the portrait of Gandhi.
APCC President, Takam Sanjoy recalled the contributions and supreme sacrifice made by Gandhi in achieving the country’s freedom. He highlighted the Gandhian philosophy of peace, communal harmony and universal brotherhood and appealed to all to follow the path of non-violence.
Earlier, a cleanliness drive was conducted in the premises of the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan by the party leaders and workers.
Hundreds of volunteers from Nyokum Lapang Welfare Committee cleaned the main road and drains starting from Mithun Gate market to Catholic Church Nyokum Lapang during a two-day long mass cleanliness drive organized by the Committee under ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’ to mark Gandhi Jayanti on October 1 and 2.
At Mechuka: The Department of PHE & WS organised a programme at Government Primary School, Mechuka on Monday, where students of Govt Higher Secondary School, Mechukha staged a drama on ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tungge Loya called upon the public to follow the principles of Gandhi and exhorted the people to come forward and work for green and clean Mechukha. The ADC also appointed 10 volunteers to keep vigil on the progress of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in the picturesque town.
An essay writing competition was also held where Dorjee Komi, Yasen Rai and Tai Baker came in first second and third positions.
At Roing: The District Administration in collaboration with the DUDA celebrated Gandhi Jayanti by organizing various programmes at the Mini Gandhi Park near Upper Market of Roing.
Garlanding of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, distribution of prizes and certificates to the winners of essay and painting competition on cleanliness were the main highlights of the celebration.
At Aalo: Paying homage to the Father of the Nation, West Siang Deputy Commissioner Swetika Sachan sought cooperation of the public to make the sanitation campaign a success.
She appealed to the public to imbibe the habit of proper waste disposal, using sanitary latrines in order to achieve the goal of Swachh Bharat.
She also declared West Siang a plastic-free district.
Earlier, Bomjom Ado, AE (PHED) highlighted various cleanliness activities during Swachhta Hi Seva fortnight.
Aalo East Block has been awarded as the first Open Defecation Free Block and Jirdin village has been awarded as the cleanest village in the district.
The programme was organized by the Department of PHE, Aalo.
At Yupia: The officials and staff of Yupia District Administration conducted mass social service under Swachchata Hi Seva at the district headquarters to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
The day was also celebrated at Government Secondary School, Kakoi by carrying out mass cleanliness drive under the leadership of the Kakoi Circle Officer.
At Bomdila: Celebrating Gandhi Jayanti, West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Sonal Swaroop appealed to all to imbibe the habit of cleanliness and make it an indispensable part of life.
The Department of UD and Housing (Bomdila) chose Gontse Gaden Rabgyeling Monastery as the cleanest institution and was awarded with a meritorious certificate under Swachhta Hi Seva campaign by the Deputy Commissioner.
Winners of the essay and drawing competitions conducted among the students of the district by the Department of PHED & WS were also felicitated on the occasion.
A series of free legal literacy and counselling programmes were conducted at government higher secondary schools of Rupa, Dirang, Kalaktang, Bomdila, Thrizino and Nafra, besides Government Secondary School, Balukpong and Government Middle School, Balemu by the District Legal Service Authority of West Kameng district for the public on Monday to mark the 148th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi.
Advocates attending as resource persons spoke on various topics and free legal services provided by the District Legal Services Authority.
At Pasighat: On the day, the Pasighat Municipal Corporation (PMC) honoured the best sanitation workers, Ranjit Majuri and Christina Tamang for their dedicated work at the PMC office.
Officials and members of the PMC and All India radio also stressed on the importance of public sanitation for a clean and green Pasighat.
The Tagin, Nyishi, Galo students’ union of Upper Subansiri district also jointly organized a social service at JNC College Pasighat.
At Daporijo: Mass cleanliness drives were carried out in Daporijo as part of the Gandhi Jayanti celebration under the supervision of UD & Housing Department along with PHE and District Administration.
Deputy Commissioner Danish Asraf encouraged the town dwellers to keep their surrounding neat and clean by regularly conducting social services in their areas.
He appreciated the initiative of the group “Clean Dapo, Green Dapo” led by Sigin ZPM Rocky Motu.
At Doimukh: Students of Government College, Doimukh under the banner of Government College Doimukh Students’ Union organized an inter-semester cricket and football competition on Thursday last as part of pre-Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at NEEPCO Ground. In both cricket and football competition, first Semester girls and boys emerged as winners.
At Ruksin: The All Sille Oyan Block Youth Organization with the help of school students, business communities and villagers conducted a massive cleaning program at Oyan Bazaar, Sille Government Higher Secondary School premise and Sille Bazar in East Siang.
The program was followed by a meeting, wherein objectives of SBM and need of sanitary habits were discussed.
Addressing the gathering, Sille-Oyan block ZPM Tajing Taki urged people to adopt sanitary habits to get rid of various communicable diseases.
At Naharlagun: Around 30 volunteers of Manipuri Welfare Society of Arunachal Pradesh (MWSAP) including its Vice President, Secretary and various executive members participated in a mass cleanliness drive as part of the ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ programme at the Naharlagun Bench of Gauhati High Court campus at Naharlagun on Monday. The Society also observed Gandhi Jayanti.
Swachhata Sainiks also gathered at Gumto this morning, the entry point Railway Station of Arunachal Pradesh to clean the station area and surrounding.
India Tourism Naharlagun received overwhelming support of Arunachal Tourism, ILP staff and Gumto station staff. All present on the occasion also pledged to abide by cleanliness in their respective offices and homes.
A massive cleanliness drive was organized in Yingkiong town with participation of the Panchayat leaders, including ZPM Bading Teng on September 29 organized by PHE & WS Yingkiong-II.
The employees of BSNL under the leadership of GMTD Dilip Siram carried out cleanliness drive in public place at D-Sector, Naharlagun, adjacent to Apex bank and planted trees to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Chief Estate Officer Talo Potom also joined the social service and motivated the participants to make the occasion a grand success. The BSNL staff also took part in refurbishing the damaged portion of the drainage and adjacent platform.
At Ziro: A mass plantation drive was conducted to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bhadur Shastry, as well as to mark the completion of three years of Swachh Bharat Mission by the Lower Subansiri district unit of BJP in collaboration with the Department of Forest at Government Higher Secondary School, wherein MLA-cum-Parliamentary Secretary, Tage Taki also took part.
Later, the MLA and Lower Subansiri District unit BJP president, Tilling Dolley paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait.
At Nirjuli: Members of All Arunachal Pradesh Labour Union under the supervision of President, Dana Tadu and General Secretary, Tame Akin also conducted a cleanliness drive at the premises of AAPLU office at Nirjuli to mark the day.
At Namsai: Deputy Commissioner R K Sharma led others in offering floral tribute to the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary.
A Sarva Dharma Sabha was also organized, wherein religious leaders took part and motivated the youths to follow Gandhi’s path of non-violence.
Other highlights of the programme were exhibition of Twin Pit Toilet technology and screening of movie “Toilet – Ek Prem Katha”.
At Khonsa: Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated in Khonsa, the district headers of Tirap, and various other circle headquarters.
The programme at Khonsa was jointly organised by PHE Division, DUDA and District Administration at Government Higher Secondary School, Khonsa.
Floral tributes were paid by Tirap ZPC Sontung Bangsia and departmental heads on the occasion.
The ADC, Khonsa said that it is the fundamental duty of all the people to keep their surrounding clean. He cited the example of places like Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim, where people voluntary contribute to keep the environment clean.
A brief speech on the life of Mahatma Gandhi was delivered by a senior teacher of GHSS, Khonsa.
Bangsia also congratulated all the public, district administration, Urban Development Department and PHE Department for successfully organising the Swachhta Hi Seva programme at Khonsa.
The Swachh Gandhi Jayanti was also celebrated at Dadam Circle headquarters. Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh, who led a mass cleanliness drive from Huakan village road point to Laho via- Dadam – Chinkoi, urged the people of Huakan, Dadam, Chinkoi and Laho to continue the cleanliness drive under “Swachhata Hi Seva” for a neat and clean and hygienic environment.
At Deomali, Tirap-Longding based NERCORMP, TCRMS – DST , PNGOs, NaRMGs and SHG members conducted cleanliness drive under Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at different places, such as Nocte temple, Rangsom Hum, Circuit House and Deomali.
Reports of celebration of Gandhi Jayanati were also received from Lazu, Borduria and Soha.
