Nagaland Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) bade farewell to the senior most three officers of the department- Er Repangyangba Longkumer, Chief Engineering & HoD, Er N Thsathrichem Sangtam, Chief Engineer WSSO and Sanitation and Er Inashe Kiba, Additional Chief Engineer today at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.

Minister PHED and Cooperation Jacob Zhimomi thanking the outgoing officers for their selfless service to the government and the department acknowledged and appreciated the dedication and hard work.

He detailed the comprehensive knowledge and contributions of the outgoing officers and expressed his gratitude to the officers for guiding the department to the right correct manner without any favour and for giving him the right advice to take the department forward.

Zhimomi also pointed the undertaking of the challenging Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) which envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections by 2024 to all rural household and said, the state is working to declare Nagaland as Har Ghar Jal village.

He further encouraged the department to bring any difficulties and issues to the notice of the government “so that appropriate measures could be taken and we produce best result”.

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Principal Secretary, PHED Nagaland, E. Mhonbemo Patton commended and acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing officers which is not just the contribution to the department but the state as well. He also mentioned that the retiring officers are 80’s officers and said “one generation has just closed its chapter” opening the way for the 90’s role. He maintained that the outgoing officers possessed “fighting quality” and lauded the officers for adapting to the IT even though they are not from the technology generation.

Sharing the experiences retiring officer Chief Engineer & HoD, Er Repangyangpa Longkumer said, the journey has been very challenging with the announcement of JJM announced on 15 August 2019 with Covid-19 pandemic doubling the challenges. However, he informed that despite of all the challenges “we have done quite well may be not yet ready to celebrate” adding 78.71 percent of the task has been completed and said, the remaining will be completed in the next few months. He encouraged the PHED staff to continue the good work until ultimate goal is achieved.

Pointing the “role of engineer is always the focus of attention” Longkumer encouraged them to keep the focus and take criticism as positive interventions stating, “no matter what we do there will always be critiques pointing finger at us. Many times, our professionalism, integrity and our competence are questioned and tested.”

Stressing on the importance of upgrading knowledge he encouraged the engineers particularly young officers to avail the opportunities offered by the government and said “you should be always under alert” in order to achieve excellence and provide quality service to the public

Chief Engineer, WSSO & Sanitation Er N Thsathrichem Sangtam also emphasised in the significance of learning science of engineering and said, “the subject of water and sanitation will be there as long as human being exist” adding “the job of PHED is not going to decrease but is going to increase” and there we need full consideration we should know the subject of public health. He urged the officers to extend cooperation and dedication and encouraged them to know “God deeply”.

Additional Chief Engineer, Inashe Kiba also acknowledged the professionalism and efficiency of the department and said the he was privileged to work with them and encouraged the department to continue the good work for good governance

Creating history in the state PHE Department handed over the pension completion papers as a special gift to Chief Engineer & HoD, Er Repangyangpa Longkumer and assured the other two retiring officers to hand over their pension papers at the earliest

Meanwhile, Er Kitoshe Aye, Representative of Directorate staff and Associates of Public Health Engineers Nagaland (APHEN) also delivered the tributes

The program was chaired by Er Yanger Pongen, invocation was pronounced by Rev Tiatoshi Longkumer Pastor, Ao Baptist Church, Kohima while Benediction was pronounced by Rev Zhabu Yimsung, Pastor, Baptist Mission Church, Kohima and the closing remark was delivered by Er L. Leyang Khiamniungan.