NONGSTOIN: A week long awareness campaign on the eve of Swach Bharat Week concluded at the office of the Block Development Officer Mawshynrut C and RD Block, on Friday. The office of the BDO Mawshynrut in collaboration with the District Water and Sanitation Mission, West Khasi Hills has organized a mini marathon in which 400 participants took part.
The awareness week is aimed to highlight hygienic practices of water and sanitation and the campaign aims for Mawshynrut Block to receive the ODF block in West Khasi Hills.
The week long programme concluded with a function held at the BDO Mawshyntrut campus in which a skit competition, cultural programme, drawing competition and a football match between an ODF village and non ODF village was organised.
Speaking as a chief guest in the closing function, A Lyngkhoi, Executive Engineer PHED, lauded the efforts of the BDO Mawshynrut, M.B.Tongper for his untiring efforts to make the programme a success and states that it is the best start in the process of eliminating social issues from the society. He added that the success of the cleanliness campaign may bring a huge positive change in the area.
“After many years of independence, we are still living in a dirty environment and putting our lives in danger every moment. According to data, around 30% of the rural people do not have safe access to toilets and use open defecation system in the fields. In order to ensure hygiene all over the country, it is necessary to maintain sanitation, safe toilets, and proper waste management.
He further stated that the aim of the programme is to safeguard the health, dignity and privacy of the people of the village particularly women, children and the aged. He also urged the gathering to take maximum benefit of the long week programme in order to spread the message of a clean and green environment.
A Lyngkhoi also awarded prizes to the participants of different schools. A football match between Riangdo village in Mawshynrut and Pormawthaw also took place in which the latter won with the final score being 3-2.
