The seven-day National Rural Drinking Water & Sanitation Awareness Week was launched at the PHED conference hall on March 16 with minister for PHED, Tokheho Yepthomi as the chief guest. The awareness campaign is being organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation throughout India.
Tokheho said that the creation of water and sanitation facilities alone are not enough unless people are well informed on proper usage and maintenance of such assets, and conservation of water in “our” daily usage. He added that the awareness week also gives a two way-interaction with the villagers which will help in the administration.
Tokheho stressed on the conservation of forest since any effort to conserve water cannot be successful if there was no rainfall. Although with limited resources and grant from the centre, he said that the department would do its best to provide safe and adequate drinking water to the citizens and achieve total sanitation by 2019. He urged all the stake holders to take active part as the PHE department alone cannot sanitize the state.
Parliamentary Secretary for I&PR, Khekaho Assumi stressed more on traditional water system like traditional well since it was more reliable during the draught period. He also urged the department to tie-up with forest department for afforestation in the catchment areas to increase water supply.
Chief engineer, PHED, Er. Kevisekho Kruse in his keynote address said that half of the world’s hospitals were filled with patients suffering from water and sanitation related diseases. To make safe drinking water and sanitation available on a sustainable basis, he said that “we” needed to involve the water user community and create awareness, educating and organizing them to have discipline apart from constructing infrastructure.
Deputy speaker, NLA Imtikumzuk and parliamentary secretary, Art & Culture, E. Eshak Konyak attended the programme. Secretary, PHED Anenla S. Longchari (IAS) chaired the programme. Director WSSO, PHED, Er. K. Ghushito Sumi proposed the vote of thanks.
MOKOKCHUNG: In Mokokchung the campaign was was formally launched by deputy commissioner Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel as the guest of honor. Speaking on the occasion, the DC urged all the people present in the programme to act as brand ambassadors in spreading awareness to use water judiciously. He also said that it was the duty of every right thinking citizen specially the people in the PHED department to spread and ignite the minds of the people especially in the village to conserve water through preserving forest, harvesting of rain water etc.
The DC also suggested the staff in the department to take innovative steps such as community water harvesting saying that taking such steps will at least help improve the water table.
Executive Engineer, N.Yanger Pongen in his introductory speech said that the objective of the campaign was to realize and create awareness to construct and use household toilet, keeping the village clean, create awareness of safe drinking water and awareness for water conservation. Ha also said that during the week long awareness campaign from March 16 to 22, essay competition for school children under Kobulong sub-division would be organized on the topic “water sanitation, role of the rural authorities”, which would be followed by certain workshops.
Longleng: Along with the rest of the country, a week long programme on observation of “national rural drinking water & sanitation awareness week” was launched today at Lempong hall Longleng organized by DWSM, PHED Longleng and sponsored by WSSO, PHED Kohima, with Dr. Henshet Phom, vice principal Yingli College Longleng as the Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest explored on the importance of proper hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness for healthy living. He also stated that in order to ensure hygienic living, it was necessary to solve problems of sanitation, safe toilet and proper personal and community hygiene. He therefore called upon the gathering to practice and implement the importance of hygienic living at all level for healthier living.
Delivering the key address, executive engineer PHED Longleng, Er. Vikienyu Zutso stressed on the responsibility and active participation of the public to make the week long programme a success. He also urged the participants to take responsibility in keeping the surrounding clean apart from personal cleanliness.
The programme was attended by WATSAN committee members, council members, NGOs and women representative from the district. Earlier the programme was chaired by IEC consultant Baumei Phom, invocation prayer by youth pastor, Ao Baptist Church Longleng, Ato Longkumer while vote of thanks was delivered by S& H consultant Akala Jamir.
(Correspondent)
TUENSANG: In Tuensang the programme was held at Jubilee memorial hall Tuensang, organized by DWSM, PHED Tuensang and sponsored by WSSO PHED Kohima on Wednesday, with deputy commissioner Tuensang , Alem Jongshi as chief guest.
Speaking at the launching programme, Alem Jongshi, emphasized on the importance of sanitation and termed it as the “cleanliness or hygienic” ways of life. He also said that, the water sources and the supply water was a source of life as we live by water, clean, wash, eat and drink etc. He also said that safe drinking water and sanitation plays a major role in “our” daily life as it was the basic requirement for human health and development.
The chief guest also said that during the past years the percentage of child’s mortality rate has drastically changed with the improved supply of drinking water and sanitation. He further encouraged the concern department to carry out the programme to achieve the target goal set by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation. He also encouraged every responsible citizen and students to be the agent of change and expressed gratitude to the WSSO PHED Kohima for organizing awareness campaign all over Nagaland. Key note address was delivered by executive engineer PHED Tuensang, Er. Vikousa Khape, where he briefed the activities and objectives of the awareness week.
Speaking on the importance of sanitation and evil effects of poor sanitation, consultant, Sanitation & Hygiene, DWSM, PHED Tuensang, Rongsentola enlightened the gathering for safe disposal of human waste and waste water and solid waste management control of vector borne diseases, like diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, malaria, typhoid and many other gastrointestinal diseases. She further called upon the students to keep their toilet neat and clean, wash their hand with soap after toilet and before meal and also eradicate open air defecation for personal health and hygiene.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by JE PHED Tuensang Er.Khitangpila while vote of thanks was proposed by IEC consultant DWSM,PHED Tuensang, Ashale Seb. Invocation prayer was pronounced by executive secretary CBLT, Jonathan Chang. Chabou Somba student of Baptist Thangyen School Tuensang presented a special number on the occasion. (Correspondent)
ZUNHEBOTO: Under the aegis of WSSO, PHED, Kohima the Zunheboto Town Youth Organization (ZTYO) organized the programme which was formally launched by SDO (C) Shanavas C, IAS here in Olympic Higher Secondary School (OHSS) Zunheboto, Wednesday.
The program began with invocation prayer by ZTYO legal cell, Inoka V Zhimo followed by introduction and presentation by junior engineer Er. Mughalu Sümi and also the ZTYO vice president respectively. A brief keynote address was presented by executive engineer (EE) PHED Zunheboto, Er. Kitoshe Aye who gave a brief synopsis of the campaign which was a weeklong nationwide program which started in Mohali Punjab at national level and Kohima state level, respectively along with all districts.
EE also dwelt on the importance of water and its scarcity which has plagued Zunheboto town.
Exhorting the students and the gathering as the chief guest, Shanavas IAS, highlighted the vital necessity of water for all the living creatures including human.
Asserting that “without the presence or consumption of clean water, we tend to invite various diseases and other related illness” maintained Shanavas.
He further encouraged the students to be the ambassadors of the awareness campaign and spread it to their friends and families respectively.
In conclusion, he dwelt on the poor civic sense here and elsewhere across the state and urged them/students to inculcate those virtues, “since you students are the future and stakeholders of our society”. PHED Zunheboto, chemist Benathung Tsopoe and department IEC Kiyeshe Chishi were the resource persons who dwelt on “Water quality” and “Sanitation” respectively.
The formal program concluded with ZTYO spokesman, Oketo Chishi who extended the “vote of thanks”.
The chairperson and secretary of the program were ZTYO women coordinator, Eunice V Yepthomi and ZTYO joint secretary, Mughaka Yeptho respectively.
Hundreds of OHSS students, host of PHED Zunheboto EE and staff and several ZTYO officials took part in the program followed by procession across the Zunheboto main town stretch. (Correspondent)
DIMAPUR: In Dimapur the programme was conducted at office of EE PHED, Rural division with superintending engineer, Dimapur circle, Er. T. Sangtam as chief guest.
Speaking as the chief guest Er. T. Sangtam urged the village leaders, students and public to help conserve water for the future generations by taking small steps as water was an integral necessity for survival. He said that the purpose of such programmes by the government of India, if analysed properly was to bring about a mindset change. He also informed the WATSAN committees to carry out mass cleaning of the village, water sources and distinguish between safe water and contaminated water.
EE, PHED (Rural) Dimapur, Er. L. Tongpang Longkumer delivered the welcome address. The programme was chaired by SDO, Medziphema Er.K.Solo, invocation by convener Prayer Fellowship, Supply Colony, Yetoshe Kiho. SDO Kuhuboto, Er. Imtisowa gave vote of thanks. After the inaugural function, students, PHED officers and staff and village representatives took part in a rally, with placards displaying message on water and sanitation and raising slogans.