Nagaland today honoured the sentiments of its majority Christian population by organising a cleanliness drive on Saturday, a day ahead of Modi’s call for a country wide cleanliness drive on 1 October, Sunday.
The cleanliness drive and mass social work was conducted in all the Districts in Nagaland where citizens dedicated a few hours of their day to clean their surroundings. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an hour-long nationwide cleanliness drive on a Sunday, the Church organisations, civil society groups and the NSCN- IM had voiced concern and appealed the State Government and citizens to reschedule the cleanliness drive on Saturday or any other day except Sunday.
“Since October 1 is Sunday, a day of worship for the Christians, the church in Nagaland will have to politely turn down the call. For Christians, Sunday is not just a holiday, it is not only ceasing from work but it is a day of worship,” stated the NBCC in a press release. The NBCC has further directed its constituent churches to observe the day either on Saturday or on Monday.
The NSCN-IM, in a statement, had also noted that for any nationwide drive for cleanliness, the sentiment attached with the spirit of secularism must be rightfully respected.
With Sunday holding deep religious significance for the Christian Community, the Nagaland Theological Colleges Association (NTCA), had also conveyed the importance of respecting religious diversity and called for a reconsideration of the date for the mega cleanliness drive to ensure that it does not disrupt the religious observances of any community.
Tuensang
In Tuensang district, Swacchata Hi Seva was observed at 3rd NAP Saksi. The event saw an active participation from the 3rd Nap Battalion HQ, Tuensang led by the Deputy commandant and his Battalion on Saturday.
Noklak
The Swachhata Hi Seva Nationwide social work was carried out in Noklak Town on September 30 initiated by District Administration Noklak. The mass social work was kicked started after a brief highlight about the purpose of the cleanliness drive by Vikhoto Richa,SDO Noklak. The Drive witnessed a huge number of participants for the social work activity.
Wokha
The Swacchata Hi Seva in Wokha District witnessed Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Patton along with the District Administration, Various office, Public, Political Parties (NDPP & BJP) conducting the cleanliness drive. Patton urged the public to keep one’s surroundings clean inorder to stay healthy mentioning the rise of dengue. He also appealed the public to conduct social work twice or thrice a week, not only during mass social works but to inculcate the habit on a daily basis. The Deputy CM also visited the SP office Wokha, joining the jawans for the cleanliness drive. He inspected the new SP office complex which is currently under construction and urged the contractor to complete the building by the month of March 2024 for inauguration.
Kohima
The Immanuel Baptist Church in Kohima town conducting a mass social work in the Church premises.
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Mokokchung
In compliance with the State government and NDPP Central office directive to observe and promote the Indian Swachhata League 2.0 under the theme ‘’Swachhata Hi Seva’’, the 24th Angetyongpang NDPP A/C responded positively to the call, resulting in a massive turnout in all 12 Units participating in the cleanliness drive.
