Cleaning drive by ASTD brings thousands together in Dimapur

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 2 ‘Nagas should come out from the debt zone through courage and hard work and not through bagging,’ read one amongst the many pamphlet slogans that were circulated during the mass cleaning work organized by the Ao Senso Telongjem (ASTD). The work was undertaken under theme ‘Social Work for Humanity.’ Places like Naga Hospital, Referral Hospital and Naga Cemetery where every tribe comes under the same room were the places that ASTD took the initiative of serving a purpose for the society. More than 20,000 people from Ao community came to be a part of the mass social work. They were divided into three groups with Dimapur Civil Hospital by Ongpangkong range, Referral Hospital (CIHSR) by three ranges- Langpangkong, Changkikong and Tsurangkong and Naga Cemetery by Asetkong and Japukong range and were also represented by various groups like Dimapur Area Ao Pastors Fellowship (DAAPF), Ao women hoho, officials and various student bodies. Some of the activities involved with the mass social work were poster campaign covering the whole of Nagaland, filled potholes, church leaders praying for patients at Civil Hospital and Referral Hospital and blood donation campaign. The mass social work initiated by the Ao Women Hoho at Naga Cemetery was volunteered by thousands of people who left the resting place with a board that said “The home between heaven and life, resting for a while for eternal journey.” Eighty-eight voluntary blood donors came forward to donate their blood at the Civil Hospital Blood Bank which is the only blood bank for all districts of Nagaland. ASTD president Sobu Jamir while stating that ‘blood can turn the tears to smiles’ said the blood donation will continue for a few more days where anybody can donate their blood for saving lives. He said through the social work, the community aims to invoke the spirit of work culture among every Naga irrespective of the various cultural, political, religious and social differences. 3000 pamphlets with different messages were distributed in all the districts of the State. The garbage gathered during the social work was all burned except at the Civil Hospital which is said to be taken care of by the Dimapur Municipal Council. Various government officials and officials from the district administration came to witness the social work. Working with great enthusiasm and in harmonious joy among all young and old was the atmosphere of the annual mass social work organized by ASTD. Dayanand Vidyaniketan also organised “Swachh Bharat Campaign” in Dimapur with their school students and well wishers participating in it. The school circulated play cards with slogans to keep the town and colonies clean. The school team under the leadership of Acharya Santosh Shastri held a clean rally from Dimapur Purana Bazar and marched via Supermarket-SP office-Old NST-Railway Station-Church Road and Clock Tower and culminated near Metro Hospital, Dimapur covering almost all corners of the town. Various leaders came forward and joined the campaign to encourage public participation in the cleanliness drive.