Our Bureau
Shillong/Nongpoh/Mawkyrwat/Jowai/Tura/Nongstoin: As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the state conducted various programmes and activities on Tuesday.
Governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday was the chief guest at the awareness and cleaning drive initiated by GORETO Socio-Cultural & Welfare Society, Shillong, Vivekananda Sangha, Oakland, and Greater Iew Polo Welfare Association at Polo.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor said hygiene is the key to good health and well being and stressed the importance of keeping homes, public places, localities and surroundings clean. A cleaning drive at Polo market was also held.
The Jhalupara Village Council also conducted Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti under the leadership of the headman of Jhalupara, Prakash Bhandari.
The Shillong Diocese of Believers Eastern Church staff, students and youth Fellowship in collaboration with Umiam Police Station personnel conducted a one-day cleanliness drive at Umiam Police Station compound and its surrounding areas as part of “Swachhata hi Seva” on Tuesday.
Sarada Sangha Shillong distributed fruits and sweets to more than 200 patients of General Ward of Civil Hospital in the city on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Tuesday.
The sangha distributed lunch to the boarders of Santi Bhaban on the same day.
DC distributes waste bins
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh distributed waste bins for collection of bio-degradable waste and non bio-degradable waste materials to residents of Adingre locality as part of the Swachhta Hi Sewa on Tuesday.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the Urban Affairs department, Tura and Tura Municipal Board in order to sensitise people on the urgent need for segregation of waste at the household level. In Ampati, a mass cleaning drive was held at Ampati Bazar to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday.
Four villages awarded
In Nongpoh, as many as four villages from Ri Bhoi district were awarded for their outstanding performance regarding sanitation during the observation of Swacchata Hi Seva Abhiyan in a function held at Circuit House, Nongpoh on Tuesday.
The four villages which were awarded are Pdeng Nongrim under Umsning C&RD Block, Jermanai under Umling C&RD Block, Nonglum under Jirang C&RD Block and Umtung under Bhoirymbong C &RD Block.
In Nongstoin, the District Water and Sanitation Mission in collaboration with the PHE Department observed Swachhta Hi Seva at Bishop Hall where Nongstoin MLA was the chief guest. He informed that he was involved in framing the Solid and Liquid Resource Management Act which has become a state wide issue and accepted by the State Government. It was first implemented by the people of Nongstoin, he added.
In Jowai, a cleaning drive was organised by the municipal board in collaboration with the district administration. The cleaning drive was conducted in and around Iawmusiang market.
The Sein Raij Jowai contributed Rs 5,000 towards the cleaning drive campaign.
The District Legal Service Authority in collaboration the office of the Superintendent of Police also conducted a cleaning drive at Iawthymme. Ladthadlaboh, Mooralong and other villages in the district also conducted similar activities in their localities.
In Mawkyrwat, the office of the District Swachh Bharat Mission, South West Khasi Hills also celebrated Swacch Bharat Diwas. The District Swachh Bharat Mission also achieved open defecation free status on this day.
The event had presentations on “Waste to Wealth” and “Conservation of Wahsala Stream”, a major water source in the district headquarters which is a tributary of the Rilang river.
College organises talk
IQAC of Shillong Commerce College commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by organising a talk on “Gandhian Philosophy in today’s World”. It was chaired by Prof. D. Sawkmie from the Department of Economics. The Principal, Prof. J. B. Massar delivered the welcome address. The Resource person was Prof. Prasenjit Biswas from the Department of Philosophy, NEHU.