The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) welcomes and expresses happiness over the decision of the Nagaland State government to have preponed the Central government’s proposed massive cleanliness drive across the country on 1st October 2023 by a day to 30th September 2023. This is a humble beginning of conveying our goodwill message that nothing but mutual trust and respect is the only way to develop confidence building between the State and the Centre irrespective of caste, race, and religion.
The NTC, in fact, is dismayed by the announcement of the Government of India vide D.O. Letter No. 2/8/2019-SBM dated 22.09.2023 for a massive cleanliness drive led by the people across the country on 1st October 2023 at 10:00 AM as part of Swachhata Pakhwada – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2023 as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, on the eve of his birth anniversary on 2nd October 2023 with the information that the Prime Minister and other dignitaries would also be joining the swachhata activities on ground.
The Christian community in Nagaland seriously feels it insulted as the proposed official scheduled date of 1st October 2023 for massive cleanliness drive falls on Sunday, which is a day of worship for the Christian Community. This is not the first instant that the Hindu dominated Country discriminates the Christians in the country in general and the Northeast in particular where Nagaland is no exception to it in the matter of launching government programmes coinciding with the Sunday worshiping services. In earlier occasions too, since the BJP regime at the Centre post 2014, the 25 th December which is a remarkable day for the Christian community was officially declared as Good Governance Day. Also, it was on Sunday, the International Yoga Day was officially launched whereby the church services were disturbed by the official programme. This time as well, the Swachhata Pakhwada, a massive cleanliness drive is fixed on Sunday the 1st October 2023 with a government programme. Coinciding of the official launching programmes on Sundays need to be avoided as far as practicable.
It is significant to note that Nagaland is a Christian dominated state but does not fail to give due respect to all form of religions. It duly honours other official holidays such as the Durga Puja, Diwali, Guru Nanak Birthday, Janmashtami, Id-ul-Zuha, Holi, Id-ul-Fitr, etc. On the contrary, however, even the 25th December which is one of the greatest days for the Christians the world over surprisingly is not given due recognition and no general holiday is declared in the mainland India. Due reciprocation with gesticulation of rapport from both the State and the Centre is necessary for a peaceful coexistence.
Media Cell, NTC