Villages in Mokokchung achieve sanitation goals

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, August 14 (EMN): The weeklong observation of “Freedom from Open Defecation,” organized by the Public Health Department of Mokokchung division under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), has culminated on Monday at the Longkumer Kilem in Mokokchung.
The culmination programme was attended by District Ambassador Supongmeren Jamir as the chief guest and Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Shushil Kumar Patel as the guest of honour for the event.
10 villages under Mokokchung district were awarded certificates besides cash for outstanding performance toward achieving the Open Defecation Free status through the construction of individual household latrines under the mission.

In the under-500 plus household villages, Longmisa and Khar bagged the awards; for the under 300-500 households village category Molungkimong and Unger; in the under 150-300 household village category, Salulamang, Yisemyong and Saringyim; and in the 0-150 household village category, Mekuli, Moalenden and Yaongyimti (new) were the recipients of the award.
In his address, the chief guest informed that the chief secretary has directed the Urban Development department, Municipal Affairs along with PHED and other financial agencies to explore funding channels to provide the same sanitary facility to all the small and medium townships in the state.
“Before 02 October 2019 we will be having the same facilities in small and medium towns in the district,” Mokokchung District SBM Ambassador assured.
He further informed that by September this year Mokokchung Town will be getting a new cesspool trucks to facilitate the people in sanitary toilets services.
Supongmeren also urged the people to widen the horizon of cleanliness in the District and appealed the WATSANs and other voluntary groups not to be content in a specific area and initiate cleanliness drive but to venture out and clean filthy area in Towns and other areas which will emulate others to do the same.
Nevertheless, he also appreciated the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, SBM Mokokchung team led by Bendangnukshi Longkumer along with guidance from PHED Mokokchung Division for achieving Gramin ODG status.
Interacting with the media personals, Supongmeren asserted that, “we are good at keeping our house interior and vehicles clean but bother to do the same went we are outside and if we change that attitude towards cleanliness than we can be the cleanliness town.”
“Littering outside should be though like littering our own home,” therefore as educated and learned persons we should build the same civic sense to keep our outside clean as we clean our houses, the SBM Mokokchung District Ambassador asserted. He also added that education on cleanliness should start from our homes.
The guest of honour, also urged the people to maintain the constructed sanitary facilities and spread awareness to the mass, adding that as an ODF status district it is the responsibility of the people to strive harder towards cleanliness to maintain the status quo.
Shield received from Government of India for achieving ODF status District was also handed over to Mokokchung DC by the PHED Mokokchung Division during the programme.
On last Sunday, a drama competition on sanitation was held at Mongsenyimti village as part of the celebration of “Freedom from Open Defecation Week”. The programme was organized by PHED Mokokchung Division under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). The winners of the competition were awarded cash and certificates.