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Our Correspondent Kohima, November 11
G Rio School has retained the Kohima’s Cleanest School award for the second consecutive time. G. Rio was honoured with the award even last year as part of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) initiative to have clean environment under its Kohima Environment & Sanitation. It was selected out of the 47 schools, including 41 private and six government schools in Kohima. Little Flower HSS and Mezhür HSS bagged the second and third position respectively while North Field HSS, Don Bosco HSS, Stella HSCC, Ministers’ Hill Baptist HSS, Fernwood School, Baptist High and Bethel HSS are also amongst the top ten cleanest schools of 2014. The first three winners bagged commendation certificate with trophies while others in top 10 received certificates, which were given away today by Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Yitachu as the chief guest of the award ceremony at NBCC Office complex. In his address, Yitachu maintained that ‘a positive mindset is very necessary to have a clean environment’. Expressing that nobody can remain clean with a negative mind, he said a negative mind would always spread the dirt in every sphere of a person’s functioning, thoughts and attitude. He also expressed concern over the growing negativism in the Naga society while lamenting that the accumulation of negativism in too much in the Naga society. He said because of such negative attitude, the Naga society is drifting further away from each other, while citing the increasing factionalism, split in churches, cropping up of more and more civil organisations as creation of negativism. Taking the opportunity, he therefore maintained that along with cleaning of roads, homes, offices and schools, Nagas need to have a clean and positive mind. “We are yet to develop the positive attitude of helping each other,” he said, adding that “If we have clean and positive mind, our growth as a people in any field, be it health care, education or economy will be tremendous”. He also challenged the teachers, parents, elders and leaders to instill the positive mind in the upcoming generation. He also lauded the efforts of the NBCC for not only working towards winning the souls, but working towards creating a healthy and clean environment in schools. He expressed the hope that such efforts would ultimately lead in bringing the positive change towards making Kohima and Nagaland clean and healthy. He expressed confidence that with such a drive a lot of good things will come about in the state. Congratulating the winners of the award, Yitachu however expressed concern over the absence of any of the government schools amongst the awardees. He hoped that even government schools would be amongst the awardees in the near future. Presenting a brief report on the activities of the Committee, Chief Engineer PHED and Joint Secretary KES of NBCC, Kevisekho Kruse said poor sanitation not only exposes people to various health hazards but has a lot to do with human dignity and progress. There are two main areas of deficiency that have to be addressed when it comes to sanitation – creation of required infrastructures and changing the cultural habits and mindset of inhabitants towards a clean hygienic way of life. Declaring the winners, Chairman KES of NBCC Kuolachalie Seyie said it is pleasantly observed that the schools in Kohima city have improved considerably with regard to general cleanliness at the schools premises and their surroundings. On the other hand, he said, it is a matter of grave concern that in case of most schools, toilet facilities are not up to the mark owing to lack of infrastructure, adequate water supply and shortage of sanitary workers. Member KES and Kohiam Village Council official Helievio Solo submitted a representation to the Government appealing that the basic facilities for toilets and rest rooms should be provided in all the schools. Secretary KES of NBCC and CEO Kohima Municipal Council, Lithrongla Tongpi, NCS chaired the programme while President Kohima Baptist Pastor’s Fellowship, Rev. Dr. Vevo Phesao said the invocation. Adviser, KES & General Secretary NBCC, Rev. Dr. Anjo Keikung delivered the welcome address. Special numbers were presented by Baptist High and Ledilhounuo Sekhose while benediction was pronounced by Asst. Treasurer KES & Associate Pastor, Sumi Baptist Church, Kohima, Dr. Hokheto Chophi.