SHILLONG, Oct 2: Meghalaya on Saturday joined the nationwide celebrations to mark the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with scores of cleaning drives organised across
the state.
To mark the day, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo flagged off the Save Rivers Movement during a clean-up drive of Umshyrpi River, which was organised by Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong in collaboration with Department of Geology, North-Eastern Hill University. According to a statement, the drive was attended by Rotarians from the club, locals, students and faculty members from the Department of Geology.
Laloo, who attended the programme as the chief guest, spoke about the benefits of rivers and argued that in order to keep the environment healthy, it is essential to keep the river water clean. “Clean rivers with aquatic life reflect the cleanliness of the people living nearby,” the DC said.
She also called on one and all to join hands to save the waterbodies in Shillong and Meghalaya in general.
Expressing gratitude to the Rotary Club and NEHU for organising the cleaning drive, Laloo also assured support from district administration.
Chair-Water & Sanitation (RCOCS) and Head of Department of Geology, NEHU, Rtn (Dr.) Devesh Walia, stressed on the need to keep the rivers clean and healthy. He also cited the social and economical benefits of clean rivers.
Co-chair, Water & Sanitation, RCOCS, Rtn Vivek Kumar, on the other hand, informed that during the cleaning drive, many single-use plastics were extracted from the streams.
Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong president, Rtn Moinica Chanda, and other club members expressed gratitude to Department of Geology and the Office of EKH Deputy Commissioner.
She also thanked the volunteers who joined the Save Rivers Movement.
Celebration at Shillong Commerce College
Shillong Commerce College, along with the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Club of the college, celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on the college campus.
A special talk on the topic ‘Mahatma Gandhi at 150: The Relevance of the Man’ was also organised as part of the programme which was attended by teachers and students of the college.
‘Follow Gandhian principles’
The NCC unit of Shillong College, to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, also organised a programme at the college conference hall.
During the programme, college principal, Dr. E. Kharkongor, encouraged the gathering to follow the principles of Gandhi. Kharkongor also stressed on the importance of NCC cadets in nation-building.
A quiz competition was also organised which was partaken by both students and teachers. Curtain came down on the programme with the singing of the National Anthem.
Competition, cleaning drive
The College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, CAU (Imphal), Umiam, celebrated the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, during which a poster competition for students and a cleaning drive were organised.
According to a statement, while the poster competition was thematised on ‘Azadi’, the cleaning drive was conducted on the institute premises and was participated by students and college staff.
Short skit, dance at Nongpoh district jail
Indiatourism, Shillong, Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with AdventuRers celebrated the day at Nongpoh district jail, during which a short skit and dance were performed by Jettwings students. The Indiatourism, Shillong, also distributed lunch packets and hand sanitisers among 200 prison inmates during the programme. A cleaning drive on a stretch of GS Road near Umiam Police Station was also taken up by the group.
Similar programme was also held in other district prison complexes.