Cleanliness is first step towards growth — Ravi

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 2 (EMN): The Governor of Nagaland RN Ravi on Wednesday said “cleanliness was, for Mahatma Gandhi, next to godliness” and that it was the first step towards growth.

The governor was addressing a programme commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the launch of manuals on Jal Shakti and Jal Shakti Gram and Swachh Campus at Kohima College in Kohima.

He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Clean India Movement’ as part of his development strategy because he felt that a clean state will only enable growth and development.

“A clean India is developed India,” Ravi said and urged the students to maintain cleanliness to keep away from diseases.

He maintained that cleanliness is also a social justice and expressed concern that the future war would be caused by the scarcity of water. He also urged the public to conserve water without causing further havoc and devastation.

Ravi asserted that “conservation of water is a long-term strategy to meet water scarcity tomorrow”, which he termed as ‘doable’, and also urged the institutions to pay attention to impart and transform the campuses.

“Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest contribution to mankind is his model of conflict resolution,” said Ravi, adding that “Gandhiji inspired many leaders around the world in resolution of conflicts on rights and interests with godly virtues such as compassion, non-violence and by spiritually choosing to be resistant to the environment.” He therefore urged the students to adopt the model of Mahatma Gandhi, saying that ‘violence does not pay’ in a state of conflict but creates more violence.

“God has not created us to be violent,” he said while encouraging the students to let “good will prevail”.

Nutsulu Rhakho, state programme coordinator of Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), presented a brief report on Jal Shakti Campus (JCS) and Jal Shakti Gram (JSG), and Swachh Campus.  She said MGNCRE strives to promote rural India through higher education intervention.

The coordinator also stated that JCS and JSG is a manual intended to help higher education institutions in developing strategies, action plans and implementation plans for water conservation in the campuses and in the villages with which the campuses are engaged with. She expressed optimism that the guide will bring a real change and impact to the society and country.