Jacob Zhimomi was present with with other officials and district awardees during the culmination of “Swachhata Hi Sewa 2023” fortnight held on the theme “Garbage Free India”.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
As the nation culminates its fortnight “Swachhata Hi Sewa 2023” held on the theme “Garbage Free India”, which started September 15, and also coincidently celebrates the 154th birth anniversary of father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, a state level felicitation programme was organized by the PHED, Nagaland, on Monday, at Iwu-Shi Garden, Nagarjan, Dimapur, to recognize and to facilitate the performing villages across the state.
The felicitation programme to honour the best performance villages under “Swachhta Bharat Mission” and best performing districts under JJM, saw minister, Nagaland, PHED, Jacob Zhimomi, as special guest who was candid about the day as a celebration by many of the citizens of the country beyond length and breadth of the country.
Stating that everyone was aware of the “Swachh Bharat Mission” or the SBM that deals with clean surroundings, sanitation practices in order to fulfill the “visions and aspirations” of the India’s citizens that was initiated by the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, who announced it and the state took the project as a state programme during Modi’s first tenure as the prime mister of India in 2014.
Stating that the SBM has become a “national movement”, Jacob emphasized that it imparts a civic sense to the citizens of the country. He said that as a developed society one need to be responsible for the “dirt” which has been produced.
Being into the 9th years of the mission, he said that the government of India (GoI) has already with the stake-holders have been already in tune with the later, Zhimomi however was of the opinion that when one is talking about the good infrastructures including good roads, pathways, railways, good shopping malls which according to him is the all part of the development activities.
He articulated and insisted that one should not forget to keep one’s surroundings clean, to practice safe sanitation including parameters, keeping the environment clean which he said is a “little part of human development”.
“Without basic development, there wouldn’t be any human development”, the PHED and Cooperation Minister said while also ascertaining that the state is progressing while also congratulating those who are to oversee the SBM drives in their respective wards so that best practices, development the last six months, a year, and perhaps for the last three years.
Jacob also felicitated eight districts of the state on their performances under different categories, Jaal Jeevan Mission (JJM) that included Wokha (percentage Har Ghar Jal Village Reported) and Tuensang as on September 2023, percentage of functional household tap connection (FHTC) coverage for the year 2023-24, total FHTC coverage for 2023-24, handing over of Har Ghar Jal certified schemes to the WATSAN committees as on September 2023-24, handing over of “Har Ghar Jal” certified schemes to the village committees under WATSAN as on September 2023-24, percentage of FTK, and lab water testing reports, and women trained for FTK testing under Kohima (Rural), Tseminyu, district, Mon, Dimapur (rural) Niuland, Wokha, Mokokchung, and Mon districts.
Meanwhile, the state level best performing villages under the SBM (G), and best districts under JJM, are drawn from the16 districts of the state with Kuda Village, Dimapur, under Chumoukedima Block, Kiyeto village, Chumoukedima district, Dhansiripar Block, Ghokito village, under Niuland block (district), Longmatra Tethuyu village (Kiphire), Chunlikha, Tesophenyu New Village (Tseminyu), Kohima village (Kohima), Yachem Village (Longleng), Yaongyimti New Village (Chuchuyimlang), Longting village (Tizit), Chetheba (Khulazu Bawe ), Longkhim (Chungtor village), Dan village (Noklak), Wapher village (Shamator), Ralan (Yanpha village), Tokiye (Shevishe village), and Nsong village (Tening).
Earlier, the programme that was chaired by executive engineer, Dimapur Urban, Er Bendangtola Walling, saw principal secretary, PHED, Nagaland, welcoming the gatherings, while the keynote address was delivered by Superintending Engineer, Dimapur Circle, and the Superintending Engineer, Kohima Circle, Er Vikedoulie, proposing the vote of thanks.
A special song was also presented by Limekua.