The Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC) held the culmination program of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ on 2 October at the MMC conference hall, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The focus of the event was to honor the 37 sanitation workers of the MMC.
The sanitation workers were recognized and provided with sanitation necessities such as PPE kits, helmets, boots, brooms, rice, and other gifts.
Alongside the MMC, Bedi Bachhao Bedi Padhao, Dr Sentitula IFS, District Forest Officer of Mokokchung, the Department of Civil Supplies Mokokchung, and the Mokokchung Police contributed to the felicitation of the sanitation workers, as informed by Chumlamo Humtsoe, ADC & Administrator of MMC, and Team Captain of ISL 2.0.
Dr Sentitula, in her speech during the felicitation, emphasized that every person’s purpose on Earth is to serve society. She added that no service is too big or too small when done wholeheartedly. Quoting ‘Service to men is service to God,’ she lauded the sanitation workers, acknowledging their work as a service to God, and expressed appreciation.
The fortnight-long cleanliness campaign was launched on 15 September, aiming to engage people across the country through activities such as the Indian Swachhata League 2.0 (ISL) and Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir. MMC organized various programs during the 15-day campaign.
“Swachhta Pakhwada” was initiated under the leadership of Chumlamo Humtsoe, Administrator MMC and ADC, Mokokchung who was the Captain of ISL 2.0, along with Sakumongba, Field Assistant as the Brand Ambassador, and Kilepchiba, Sanitation Inspector, as the Nodal officer.
Kilepchiba, the Sanitation Inspector and Nodal Officer, provided an overview of the initiatives and programs conducted starting from 15 September. These programs included a briefing by JS, SBM on 1 September, city and citizen registrations, and the launch of Swachhata Pakhwada and ISL 2.0 on 15 September, 2023, with significant participation from Nagaland.
The ISL 2.0 launching event on 18 September, 2023, at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, included several activities such as town hall wall painting, shopping complex enhancements, wall painting, and logo stickers on sanitation trucks, with participation from 400 volunteers.
During the Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir, various events were conducted, including a medical camp, Dengue awareness, dog vaccination, PPE kit distribution to sanitation workers, and an eye camp benefiting 43 sanitation workers.
Under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, a cleanliness drive on 30 September resulted in the collection of 659.6 kgs of plastic waste across various areas in the town, engaging 240 volunteers.
Kilepchiba also revealed the results of Citizen Registration among the NE States, with Assam ranking first and Nagaland second. In terms of participation, Assam and Nagaland ranked first and second among the Northeast states, respectively, while Maharashtra secured the top position nationally.
Speaking on behalf of the All Ward Union Mokokchung, Lanuakum, VP, AWUM congratulated the Swachhata Warriors for the successful completion of the program. He highlighted the significant progress of ISL 2.0 this year and emphasized the need to uphold and sustain the initiative.
He also suggested that MMC provide proper medical checkups and safety kits to sanitation workers from all wards in the town. He concluded by suggesting a slogan to the gathering, “Do not let your trash be someone else’s trash.”