EMN
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 19
Along with rest of the world, Nagaland today joined in observing World Toilet Day with the main programme being organized in the Directorate of Public Health Engineering under the initiative of Water and Sanitation Support Organisation (WSSO) PHED.Addressing the gathering as the special guest, WSSO (PHED) Director, Er KG Sumi, while stating that about 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to basic sanitation, including toilets or latrines, stressed on the importance of cleaning toilets, surrounding, schools, Angwadi centres, use of soap before meal, after defecation and safe disposal of child excreta.
Er Sumi also emphasized on totally doing away with the bad practice of open defecation and to keep one’s surrounding clean with proper solid and liquid waste management. He further urged the PHED staff to be the ambassadors for educating the rural people to achieve healthy sanitary practices before 2019.
“The UN General Assembly in the year 2013 designated November 19 as World Toilet Day to raise awareness amongst the people on the need to access toilet,” he added.
Meanwhile, PHED divisions and Superintendent Engineers (SE) Circles office in the state conducted social work by way of cleaning the office toilets and surrounding after the function.
The programme was chaired by Executive Engineer WSSO-PHED, Er. Agwaseng Kent, while a special number was presented by Sanitation & Hygiene Consultant, WSSO PHED Adi Nakhro and friends. A short play on ‘Proper use of Toilet’ was displayed by DEO WSSO PHED, Ruokosalie Metha and friends and Nodal Officer PHED Er. Seyievizo tendered the vote of thanks.
DIMAPUR: In Dimapur, the World Toilet Day was organized by PHED (Rural) division, Dimapur at its office premises.
The programme was marked by cleaning of toilets and its surroundings led by the head executive engineer, PHED (Rural) division, Dimapur, Er L Tongpang Longkumer with participation from all rank and file of the division.
The programme began with a simple programme chaired by Er. L. Tongpang Longkumer who spoke on the significance of World Toilet Day and also on the theme of 2014 “Equality, dignity and link between gender-based violence and sanitation.”
In his address Longkumer also stressed on the need to end open defecation and dwelt on access to improved sanitation, which leads to reduction in assault and violence on women and girls. “World Toilet Day serves as reminder of the struggles faced by billions of people who still lack access to improved sanitation,” he added.
Sanitation and Hygiene Consultant of the division, Imojungla Longkumer also shared her concern on the safety of women and the need for access to good sanitary toilets for dignity and development.
