Swachh Bharat campaign ends at Chandel, Jiri : Mass rally held at Churachandpur, Chandel
Source: The Sangai Express

Lamka/Chandel/Jiri, October 22 2014: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign in Churachandpur today witnessed the biggest ever participation with thousands of students, common men and Government officials turning-up for a mass rally that culminated with a prize distribution ceremony.

The rallyists holding banners and placards exhibiting the importance of sanitation began their march from Lamka Public ground and concluded at Synod Hall where top officials from the district addressed the gathering.

Prizes for the essay competition conducted by the Zonal Education Office were presented as well.

Addressing the gathering, ADC Chairman Langkhanpau Guite likened cleanliness to godliness and called on the people to maintain proper sanitation at their own level and merit.

Citing the instances of several epidemics witnessed in the past known locally as Hipi Natna, he said the lack of proper sanitation or the practice of open defecation usually was its cause and added that these cases have slowly declined as hygiene improved.

A mass cycle rally taken out as part of the Swachh Bharat campaign in Thoubal district

The newly posted DC Lunminthang Haokip meanwhile called on the public, NGOs, CSOs and philanthropic orgnaisations to make Churachandpur the cleanest district in the State.

Saying that the Government is working to make the entire country hygienic by 2019, he called on the public to create a hygienic environment and added that purity at heart should never be set aside.

L Swamikanta Singh, Director CCDU Manipur; H Bigadhon Singh, SE/RC-1 PHED; Dr Thangchinkhup Guite, CMO Churachandpur; KS Tawmbing DFO Churachandpur; and MC Thoiba also spoke on various topics relating to sanitation during the meeting.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign was conducted at the block level by several NGOs including Rural Development and Research Agency (RUDRA), Lenlai Development Organisation (LDO) and Good Samaritan Foundation (GSF).

They started the campaign under the sponsorship of the PHE Department on October 14 and carried on till October 20 .

Interior villages like Bukpi, Parbung, Zezaw, Aina, Haotak Phailen, Makhao Tampak were among the villages visited by the team where they conducted field water testing, inter personal communication on sanitation and safe hand washing.

Meanwhile, Chandel PHE Division/District Water and Sanitation Committee, Chandel district in association with Chandel District Private School Association organized a mass rally and closing ceremony of the National Sanitation Campaign, 2014 under Swachh Bharat Mission at Chandel district headquarters today.

A large number of students took part in the rally which was flagged off by ST Nunghlung Victor, MLA from Mini Indoor Stadium to DC Office Complex, Chandel where a closing ceremony was organized.

The students held placards inscribed with slogans like 'Water is life', 'Wash hand with soap after defecation', 'Water is precious', 'Avoid open defecation', 'Use water judiciously', 'Save trees, save water', 'Adopt rooftop rainwater harvesting' etc during the mass rally.

ST Nunghlung Victor and M Umakanta Singh, Executive Engineer, Chandel PHE Division handed over certificates and cash prizes to the winners of essay and painting competitions during the closing ceremony.

The valedictory function was also attended by Jameson Bungdon, SO Chandel PHE Division, Rev Rd Joykumar Anal, president of Chandel District Private School Association, Moses Maring, secretary, Chandel District Private School Association among others.

Meanwhile, a painting competition today marked the end of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Jiribam under the aegis of PHE Division, Jiribam.

The painting competition was conducted in collaboration with Jiribam Development Organisation (JDO), on the theme "Clean village, happy village" at Jiribam Higher Secondary School.

Students from various Government and private schools of Jiribam took part in the competition which was divided into two different categories.

The closing ceremony of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was held at the auditorium hall of Jiribam Higher Secondary School with L Ranjit Singh, Principal Jiribam Higher Secondary School, Sinam Sarat Singh, AE PHE Division, Jiribam and H Mema Devi, President JIMPAL as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Prizes were also presented to the winners of the painting competition during the closing ceremony, which saw a large turn out.