Amidst opposition by various churches and civil society organisations (CSOs) to the proposed nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1, the state government has notified that the cleanliness drive in Nagaland will be held on September 30 at 10 am instead of October 1 on account of the designated day being a Sunday.
Principal secretary, home, Abhijit Sinha stated in a press release that respective deputy commissioners had been designated as nodal officers for planning, taking necessary measures, and coordinating with all urban local bodies (ULBs) in urban areas and block development officers (BDOs) in rural areas, and district officers of other departments/agencies for ensuring successful execution of all activities related to the cleanliness drive in the districts, in line with the instructions of the Central government.
Meanwhile, Dimapur district administration, along with Dimapur Municipal Council, held a meeting with Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation, Dimapur Nagaland Students’ Union, Dimapur GB Federation, Naga Council Dimapur, and Team Better Dimapur on Wednesday to chalk out plans for the proposed mega cleanliness drive in Dimapur.
DMC administrator W Manpai Phom informed the gathering that the cleanliness drive would be conducted from 6 am to 8 am at the designated sites (refer table), directing that all shops and business establishments would have to down their shutters from 6 am to 9 am and take part in the mega drive.
He said the drive would mainly focus on picking up and clearing plastic wastes in colonies and wards, adding that several wards and colonies were clubbed together, and that there would be convergence points for waste collection.
He further stated that a culmination programme of the cleanliness drive would be held at Clock Tower at 8 am where students from six schools and colleges — Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur Mission Higher Secondary School, Christian Higher Secondary School, Eden Higher Secondary School, and Dimapur Government College — would attend the programme.
He mentioned that around 700 to 800 students were expected to take part in the culmination programme, where they had also been advised to collect multi layered plastics (MLPs) from their own homes.
Convergence points by DMC
Sl No. Ward Nos Starting Point Culmination Points Incharge Name
- 11,12,13 Respective Colonies DC Court Junction Tsapi (9615449110)
- 1,2,9,10,21 Respective Colonies Clock Tower Allupo (8794743682)
- 14,17,18,19 Respective Colonies New Market Zachamo (9856247624)
- 7,15,16,23 Respective Colonies Signal Junction Revo Anar (9856901584)
- 5,6,8 Respective Colonies Railway Station Vika (8787793015)
- 20 and DAN Respective Colonies Super Market Achila (8258918995)
- 3,4,22 Respective Colonies Burma Camp Junction Ezan Jami (8974414523)
ABAM, PBCA oppose cleanliness drive on Oct 1
Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) and Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) have expressed strong opposition to the Prime Minister’s call for nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1, 2023, which falls on Sunday.
In a press release, ABAM president Rev. Temshi Longkümer and executive secretary Rev. Dr. Prof. Mar Pongener termed the cleanliness drive as “subjugation of Indian Christians by Shramdaan for Swachhata Activity on Oct 1, 2023.”
ABAM said the cleanliness drive on Sunday (October 1, 2023) overshadowed “our religious rights, condemned our beliefs and piety, and repressed Christian rituals and activities that cantered on Sunday Worship”.
ABAM said even though “Shramdaan for Swachhata” is organised with a phrase “Ek Taraek Ek Ghanta Ek Saath” as a part of the Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva-2023, it was a recurrent theme, an offensive tool to “intentionally subjugate” Christians in India.
Thus, ABAM said it vehemently objects to “such deliberate attempt” made to execute mass social work on Sunday and described it as a “ systematic mistreatment infringing the religious rights and freedom of Christians in India.”
PBCA: Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) through its executive secretary N. Tialemaba Phom admitted that keeping towns and cities clean was the civic duty of every citizen and must be practiced sincerely, but not at the cost of Sunday.
PBCA questioned why the government’s programmes and activities always coincided with Christian event like Sunday, Christmas day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday etc? PBCA said a good and enlightened leader of the country must know how to respect others.
PBCA said that Churches also organise and participate in social activities very often as part holistic activity, but never on Sundays.
Therefore, PBCA has call upon all Phom citizens and Naga Christians to avoid working on Sunday. “The government may initiate cleanliness drive on any day, but not Sunday, and we will extend our full cooperation,” PBCA said.
NDPP lauds CM, govt for rescheduling date
NDPP on Wednesday appreciated and welcomed the decision of the chief minister and the state government to prepone the date of the nationwide cleaning drive by one day to September 30, 2023 instead of October 1, which falls on Sunday.
NDPP through its media & communication committee said that the decision spoke volumes of the maturity of the leadership and the government in ensuring that the sentiments of the people come first and foremost.
It , therefore, appealed to all the people to come forward in unity on September 30, and contribute towards creating awareness on the importance of cleanliness, not just in their homes, but also in towns, villages, localities and surroundings.
Welcoming the mega cleanliness drive as part of the Swachhata Pakhwada–Swachhata Hi Seva 2023, NDPP however asserted that Centre’s decision of calling a one-day national cleaning drive on October 1 was not conducive towards the sentiments of the people of Nagaland as the day falls on a Sunday, which goes against the very Christian principle of keeping the Sabbath holy.
NDPP expressed the view that cleanliness is the duty and responsibility of every citizen. NDPP said it was important to educate and encourage the citizens of this importance by creating awareness, but it was also equally important that the sentiments of all the citizens must be taken into consideration while undertaking such awareness programmes.