Officials along with the participants during the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign held in Phek district on September 23. (DIPR Photo)
Zunheboto, September 24 (MExN): Urban local bodies and rural departments across Nagaland observed the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign with cleanliness drives, public advocacy meetings, and community participation spanning Zunheboto and Phek districts, an official DIPR update informed.
In Zunheboto district, the Aghunato Town Council observed the campaign through a series of awareness meetings held across Inavi Colony and the remaining nine colonies of the town. Addressing the gathering at Inavi Colony, Town Council Chairman Ahokhe Achumi strongly advocated for keeping the town clean, hygienic, and litter-free.
He announced that the Council would provide four dustbins to every colony for proper dry and wet garbage disposal once provided by the government, while advising citizens to use them judiciously.
At Vikiye Colony, the programme was presided over by TCM Juvitoli Yeptho, who urged shopkeepers to maintain sanitation around their establishments and foster civic sense and community cooperation.
During the deliberations, Business Union President Kakishe Yepthomi raised the acute non-availability of public toilets and urine sheds in the commercial hub, urging the Council to construct them across all colonies.
He also flagged concerns regarding random and unauthorized collection of money from shopkeepers—particularly non-locals—and requested administrative disciplinary action.
Business Union member Vilopu Katty echoed infrastructure concerns, pointing out the urgent requirement for community steps and additional electricity poles to match manifold increases in household numbers. The local campaign concluded with a collective pledge to make Aghunato a model clean town.
Meanwhile, under Phek district, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Phek organized a three-day Awareness and Advocacy activities programme from September 21 to 23, 2026, under the themes "Clean Public Spaces" and "Clean Water Bodies."
On September 21 at Chezesu village, a cleanliness drive was carried out alongside the village community, focusing specifically on tourist sites and community toilets. On September 22, PHED in collaboration with GHSS Chozuba conducted a campaign program at Chozuba ADC, executing cleanliness drives around traditional wells, ponds, streams, and nullahs.
On September 23 at Meselumi village, a cleanliness drive involved active village participation. PHED Phek Executive Engineer Er Narisen Jami exhorted the gathering, stating that the campaign aims to promote community ownership through responsible waste management and sanitation.
Er Jami detailed several key activities featured during the outreach, including advocacy for the "4-Ways Segregation: Ab Do Nahi, Chaar" initiative, demonstrations on 4-ways bin usage, "Say no to Plastic" awareness drives coupled with the distribution of reusable cloth bags, compost packet distribution, and live demonstrations of household composting methods.
