Morung Express News
Kohima | July 19
Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Kiphire and Longleng were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) districts today by V. Radha, IAS, Joint Secretary (SBM-G), MDWS, Government of India at an event held at the Civil Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima.
“Anything good cannot be achieved easily. Nagaland should become a model state for the whole country,” said V. Radha while lauding the efforts made by the government employees in Nagaland in transforming the four districts open defecation free.
However, Radha maintained, sanitation has to go beyond ODF, where holistic approach of sanitation is a must which includes solid liquid waste management, behavioral changes and recycling of wastes. “It is ODF plus. Sanitation has to be a way of life,” asserted Radha, who suggested the concept of looking at wastes as resources which Nagaland must adopt. She further urged for reusing, recycling and reducing wastes. Radha stressed the crucial roles women play in building communities, and asserted women have to be the central pillar in any such mission.
Sharing her journey in Nagaland and experiencing the landslides, Radha considered it remarkable because it also gave her an understanding of the realities in Nagaland. “The activities and commitment of the engineers here is different from the rest of the country,” lauded Radha mentioning how the engineers in Nagaland move beyond technical aspects and focus on the people, communities and the realities they face.
In 2013, the household coverage of toilets in Nagaland was only 13 percent. Therefore, Er Kevisekho Kruse, Chief Engineer, PHED, Nagaland considered the declaration as a huge achievement for Nagas. While Nagaland is known for its sanitation compared to other States in India, it also faces a greater challenge of converting wastes into resources.
Stating that efforts are being made by the PHED and the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Kruse appealed for a change in the mindsets and behaviors of each citizen and hoped that the rest of the districts in Nagaland will also be declared ODF soon.
Short speeches were also delivered by Supongmeren Jamir, Government Brand Ambassador, SBM and Hiyanya Borah, DDG, MDWS, GoI. Considering the declaration as historic, Borah hoped that the whole of Nagaland will be declared ODF by the end of 2017.
