Swachhata Pakhwada winners across categories felicitated

KOHIMA — The Department of School Education, in collaboration with the Samagra Shiksha, organised a state-level felicitation programme for the winners in various categories under the Swachhata Pakhwada 2023 at the Directorate of School Education, Kohima, on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Advisor of School Education and SCERT, stated that cleanliness in Nagaland has evolved and dates back to when missionaries arrived and the ancestors did not have much knowledge of hygiene.

Cleanliness must be taught to people in a place like India, he said, adding that self-care and concern for one’s own health and for society are essential. He also added that Nagaland has about four lakh students, which means that lakhs of sweet wrappers are produced on a daily basis, contributing to the carbon footprint.

According to Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary of School Education and SCERT, the total number of schools that participated in this year’s Swachhata Pakhwada was 1,350, including government, private, and central schools, with 1,82,540 students.

During the Swachhata Pakhwada 2023, three best students from each activity and three best clean and well-maintained schools were chosen for the state-level award in painting, model making, slogans, poetry, essay writing, and clean and well-maintained premises in schools.

The best students and schools were awarded on Monday.

The Ministry of Education has been observing Swachhata Pakhwada every year since 2016 across schools in the country. Every year, the dates of Swachhata Pakhwada are set from September 1 to 15.

Director of School Education, Wonthungo Tsopoe, while congratulating the winners of the competitions, said that winning has a responsibility and called upon them to be the torchbearers. He urged everyone to make every effort towards cleanliness, stating that it is a lifetime commitment, not a fortnightly business.

Moten S Phom and Sungjemmenla Longchar of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) Diphupar, and Marupa Beyum of Zakiesato Memorial High School, Dimapur, won first, second, and third place in the poetry competition, respectively.

The painting competition was won by Vikuneile of John Govt. Higher Sec. School, Kohima (first), Shahnaz Begum (second), and Boustin (third) of Assam Rifles Public School.

Yakai Konyak of Model School Mon won first place in the craft/model-making category, followed by Nolevonu and Limpishe Yimcunger of GHS Jakhama and Pangai of GMS Alichen. Shurhonguno Niphi of GHS Mezoma, Sneha Gupta of Zakiesato Memorial High School, and Totoli Yeptho of GHS Toluvi finished in first, second, and third places, respectively, in the slogan competition.

For the essay, Kajal Lama of John Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Kohima, Yanglechuba Y Chang of EMRS Diphupar, and Jsophronu Khrie-o of John Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Kohima, won the first, second, and third prizes, respectively.

Meanwhile, GHS Pughoboto, Zunheboto, GPS Dibuia, Mokokchung, and Police Unit, Mon, won in the category of clean campus.

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