Governor advocates for Modi’s Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan

ITANAGAR, Sep 26: Ahead of scheduled launch of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan – a major initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clean India – in this part of the country on Oct 2, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma has appealed to the people of the State especially students, employees, NGOs, community based organizations and civil society for their whole-hearted participation in the Clean India Campaign.

The Governor, while interacting with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki & his cabinet colleagues and the Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga at Raj Bhawan here today, said that it is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a five-year programme to make our country clean. The goal is to achieve Swachchh Bharat by 2nd Oct 2019, as a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.
Consequently, the State government will prepare an annual plan for the mission in the State.
The Governor reminded the gathering that the ‘Father of the Nation’ considered cleanliness next to godliness and called sanitation more important than political freedom. He stated that the task may appear to be mammoth, but is doable and must be accomplished to see a healthy and vibrant India.
‘Charity begins at home’ the old adage suggests that each one of us start the cleanliness and sanitation drive from own home, then go on to the locality, city and beyond. Participation by all of us young, not so young and old and from various sections of society, NGOs, govt bodies and particularly the youth is vital for this mission to succeed, he averred.
The Governor exhorted the State Cabinet to strengthen existing programmes and take up new ones to make the city, towns and rural areas of the State totally sanitized, healthy and livable. He also asked them to ensure sustainable good public health and environmental output for all with a special focus on hygiene and affordable sanitation facilities for the urban poor and women.
He also suggested for organizing Swachchh Bharat marathon, walkathons, painting competitions, ‘awareness marches’ at various levels to create awareness in public at large about the cleanliness.
The Governor further called for administrating public pledge on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in public gatherings, school and college assemblies not to litter on road or spit in public places and to deposit waste products at designated waste collection points.
Highlighting on creating awareness on healthy usage of toilets to eliminate open defecation, he stressed on repair, maintenance, cleaning of public toilets. He suggested for display of message of cleanliness through signboards at public places, particularly in market. He also emphasized on construction of toilets in schools and Angawadi centers, while accentuating on the importance of instilling good hygienic habits amongst the children and youth.
The Governor advised the State govt to provide adequate fund and take prompt action for removal of garbage heaps in public places. He also recommended for cleaning of govt buildings including removal of excess furniture and obsolete files lying in the corridors.
Before concluding, the Governor urged upon every citizen of Arunachal Pradesh to devote at least two hours every week towards cleanliness, saying, “We all have equal stakes in it and owe it to our future generations as well. So, my fellow Arunachalees, let us rise and be in the forefront of this campaign. The country beckons us to fulfill our obligation to our motherland.”