KOHIMA — A three-day training on faecal sludge management for state, district officials and engineers concluded on Friday during a programme held at the conference hall of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Kohima.
Speaking at the valedictory programme, the chief engineer of PHED, Repangyangba Longkumer, mentioned health as a major concern and emphasised how to take care of waste and to start preparing not only by planning and implementing but by putting in action for a better future.
He stated that it should be the responsibility of the engineers to implement the works in their communities and put things in order by taking efforts in upgrading the facilities in order to have a better environment.
He acknowledged the resource persons Laxmikant Shinde, portfolio manager of PriMove from Pune, and Anuya Dhide, senior design expert of PriMove from Pune, for their contributions to the faecal sludge management.
Two officers namely Khaoshai Lam and Nungshichila Longchar shared their experiences during the training.
They also shared that the workshop showed a clear roadmap and a vision to manage human waste in different areas while reminding that the faster they implement their knowledge into practice, the better for the people.
While expressing satisfaction in getting the opportunity to conduct the workshop which began from August 16- 18, Laxmikant Shinde asked the participants to reach out to them whenever they have issues with Faecal Sludge Management.
Later in the programme, the office of the PHED felicitated the two resource persons and also gave away certificates of appreciation to all the participants for successfully attending the three-day training programme.
The function was chaired by Imkongjungla Jamir, junior engineer of sanitation and WSSO, PHED, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Ichirang Zeliang, executive engineer of Sanitation and WSSO, PHED.
A press release issued by Thepfulie, state IEC consultant from PHED, stated that the three-day event was conducted by the department, UNICEF and PriMove, Pune. The event was organised to equip the state and district officials of the department to develop and implement successful faecal sludge management plans.
It was informed that the training was attended by more than thirty officials comprising of executive engineers, sub-divisional officers, junior engineers and state consultants from PHED.
According to the press release, the training was designed to foster a comprehensive understanding of faecal sludge management encompassing its concepts, challenges and the vital role it plays in maintaining sanitation and hygiene.
The release stated that it aimed to simplify the intricate aspects of sludge management and provide a holistic understanding of the entire process thereby equipping the district teams to design and execute such management and sustainable sanitation service delivery plans tailored to their respective regions.
The topics covered during the sessions included SBM-G Phase II guidelines, retrofitting of toilets under the ODF sustainability initiative, faecal sludge management concepts and requirements as well as urban-rural convergence.
The final day of the training was dedicated to faecal sludge management planning and case studies by highlighting the significance of ensuring sustainable service delivery in sludge management.
The release further informed that the safety and dignity of the sanitation workers were emphasised during the programme.
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