Citizens of Dimapur in thousands, cutting across tribes, communities and various sections, showed up in huge numbers to undertake one of the most spontaneous of mass social works in Dimapur district on Friday morning. Organizations like the Ao Senso Telongjem, Dimapur and Dimapur District Swachh Bharat chapter including others carried out mass social works at various locations in and around Dimapur.
SBM Dimapur phase-III: Over 3500 volunteers ranging from various schools, colleges, NGOs and religious institutions responded with spirited enthusiasm. The event also marked the 1-year completion of the nationwide Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) launched in October 2, 2014 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Besides cleaning up the city, the programme also brought people from all walks together to act on their common concern and also fostered the feeling of oneness as citizens of Dimapur.
Friday’s mass social work covered– Church Road-New market area, Thahekhu village area, Lhomithi village area, Westyard colony to Old daily market-Durga Mandir, Marwari Patti/ Ram Janaki Thakurbari area, Hazi Park area, Gurudwara Road area, Rangapahar and Sangtam Tilla area, Dhobinala area to Thahekhu Gate and Livingstone School area, Khermahal-GS road area, Naga Shopping arcade area and Midland-Duncan road. DMC administrator H. Atokhe Aye also inspected the cleanliness drive at various locations.
The mass social work was spearheaded by State Brand Ambassador for Dimapur district and district nominees– Andrew Ahoto, T.L. Merry, Rev. Xashepu Wotsa, Joe Ngamkuchung, David Khobung, Bendangla Jamir, Gopinath Mech, Rev. Thungdemo Lotha, Kvuolo Lorin, Moamenla Longkumer, Yampos Murry and others.
ASTD social work
Around ten thousand people took part in the one-day mass social work organized by Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) at three locations in Dimapur on Friday under the theme “To invoke the work culture among Naga youth”. The social work includes clearing of garbage, jungles and filling up the potholes at the designated locations.
This year ASTD earmarked the following areas– Dimapur airport inside terminal office security zone main entrance, Aoyimati gate to enter terminal security zone, outside airport terminal office to main police check gate, Zion Hospital area and Naga Cemetery
On the occasion two signboards were also put up at– Dimapur Airport on behalf of ASTD initiated by Ao Lanur Telongjem Dimapur and Zion Hospital by ASTD initiated by Dimapur Watsü Telongjem.
Talking to media persons, ASTD president, Supu Jamir expressed gratitude to all the villages for their participation and the work being done satisfactorily in all the assigned areas. ASTD also further expressed gratitude to Naga council Dimapur, District administration, airport authority and Zion hospital & research centre, Dimapur police, CISF and Airports Authority of India (AAI) for their support.
Airport expansion: Talking to Nagaland Post, AAI director, Mughavi Zhimo expressed gratitude to the Ao Community of Dimapur for carrying out such a massive social work at Dimapur airport. He said Dimapur airport, the only airport in Nagaland belongs to the people and it should be maintained and developed for providing better services to the people of Nagaland.
Mughavi also informed that the AAI, Dimapur was geared up to develop the airport in a big way for which tendering/awards of various works have been initiated. The results would be seen within a year’s time, he added. For safety and security of air operations, he expressed hope that the state government would expedite the acquisition of land and handover the same to AAI so that expansion and developmental works could be carried out at the earliest.
He was also optimistic that once infrastructures are setup, Dimapur could have an International airport.
He further disclosed that the AAI, as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, sanctioned Rs.48, 02,892 for construction of six boys and six girls toilet in various schools in the state. AAI would be carrying out various awareness programmes in the days to come, he added.
NCD lauds ASTD: Naga council Dimapur (NCD) has expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) for setting a good example by cleaning Naga cemetery Dimapur for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015).
In a press release, NCD general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam also acknowledged the district administration for taking up cleanliness and awareness drive on October 2, 2015 as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Further, NCD also stressed on the role played by WATSAN on NIRMAL Bharat Abhiyan (total sanitation campaign). The objective of the campaign is to bring about improvement in the rural areas by eradicating the practice of open defecation and achieve the vision of clean India by 2019.
Meanwhile, NCD has called upon all the citizens of Dimapur to cooperate and lend helping hand to the district administration and make Dimapur one of the cleanliest cities in country.