Nagaland striving to end open defecation in state
Dimapur: Nagaland Public Health Engineering Department PHED and cooperation minister Jacob Zhimomi on Wednesday said that out of 747 villages, the state has 406 open defecation free (ODF) villages, 39 model villages, and 302 rising villages as of September 2024.
Gracing the Swachhata Hi Seva culmination programme as the chief guest in state capital Kohima, Zhimomi stressed that every individual is equally responsible for the cleanliness campaign to make the environment clean for everyone.
He appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the line departments and the government to effectively change their mindsets to create or make Nagaland the safest place.
He thanked the urban development department, PHED, municipal councils, town councils, and the blocks and villages for their contributions and support in various capacities for making the best outcome of the holistic mission of the cleanliness drive.
While asserting that it was the biggest cleanliness campaign across the country and the world with an impactful culmination, Zhimomi said that since its official launch on October 2, 2014, significant progress has been made within 10 years of the Swachh Bharat Mission in construction of toilets and sharp decline in infant mortality rate, among others.
Back in the commercial hub of the state, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) organised the culmination-cum-award ceremony of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at the Lion’s Club.
DMC chief executive officer Thungchanbemo Tungoe said the campaign witnessed a wide array of activities organised to engage the public and spread awareness on the importance of cleanliness.
Key activities undertaken by the DMC on the day included a mini marathon and a ride for cleanliness as well as a cleanliness awareness campaign targeting churches, schools, colleges and local shopkeepers.
The council also focused on cleaning and beautification of the clean target units in collaboration with the local organisations.