Will Manipur Be Clean ?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 03, 2014 -

The concept of cleanliness is not something new. Everyone knows the importance of cleanliness, but it is something which gets ignored knowingly.

The goal for ‘Clean India’ as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi is still a dream for the country.

For long, the Government has not taken up much to revamp the ‘Clean India’ campaign. Littered avenues and stinking drains filled with garbages are some common sights in India.

As for Manipur, the situation at Khwairamband Keithel and other places of Imphal City is quite abominable.

The Imphal Municipal Council (IMC), which is supposed to maintain cleanliness within its jurisdiction, has also failed to do its duty.

A more serious issue concerning cleanliness in the State is dumping of garbages in the rivers, especially Naga River and Nambul River which have been polluted to the extreme level. This is just the general scenario of Imphal City.

A closer look into the government offices and buildings across the State will give a worrisome picture of ‘Clean Manipur’.

Lack of civic sense may be a major factor for the deteriorating condition of public places in the State.

Toilets in government hospitals and offices may be the most unhygienic places. The wall tiles and basins in these government buildings are often tainted with paan spit.

Cleanliness is often out of question when it comes to the government offices.

All while it has just been an annual ritual to conduct cleanliness camp on Gandhi Jayanti without having any firm belief in the importance of cleanliness and hygiene.

People normally avoid using dustbins and they overlook the symbol “Use Me”.

No one bothers to clean up the litters after a Shumang Leela or movie show at the local playground or theatre.

It will be worthwhile to take good lessons from the Japanese soccer fans, who cleaned up the litters at the stadiums after witnessing the recent FIFA world cup matches in Brazil.

Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his nationwide cleanliness campaign, the ';Swachh Bharat Mission'; or ';Clean India Campaign'; from the Valmiki Basti in New Delhi on Thursday.

Addressing the nation at the launch, Modi asked India';s 1.25 billion people to join the ';Swachh Bharat Mission'; and promote it to everyone.

Modi himself swept a pavement at Valmiki Basti, a colony of sanitation workers before the formal launch of the ';Clean India'; drive at Rajpath.

During the inaugural function, Modi said, “We have gained freedom under leadership of Gandhiji, but his dream of clean India is still unfulfilled. Be it temples, mosques, gurudwaras or any place, we must take efforts to clean our surroundings. Cleanliness is not only the responsibility of the ';safaai kaamgar';, it is the responsibility of 125 crore Indians. If Indians can reach Mars at a cheap cost, can we not clean our neighbourhoods?"

Indeed, his inaugural speech holds lots of significance and every Indian must try to carry forward the Swachh Bharat mission which has been inspired by patriotism and not politics.

The work is to be done by all Indians. This campaign is for 1.2 billion people of the country.

Manipur should also put its best efforts to the campaign and spread the ideals of being clean and hygienic among the people. There should be no doubt in making Manipur a clean state.