Nagaland Minister Advocates Cultural Shift Towards Cleanliness

Nagaland Minister Jacob Zhimomi called for a cultural shift in the mindset towards cleanliness, emphasizing it as part of Naga culture during the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 culmination program. He commended the state's progress in sanitation, highlighting 747 open defecation-free villages, and urged collective efforts for a cleaner state.

Nagaland Minister Jacob Zhimomi on Wednesday urged citizens not to leave the cleanliness drive solely to the government, encouraging them to change their mindset and embrace it as part of broader Naga culture.

'Many people in our state hold the misconception that cleanliness or sanitation is solely the government's prerogative. We need to change our mindset and embrace cleanliness as part of our broader and vibrant Naga culture,' Zhimomi said during the state-level Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 culmination program.

Zhimomi, also the Minister for Public Health Engineering and Cooperation, emphasized that the campaign may officially have ended, but cleanliness must be seen as a continuous, community-driven effort.

'Cleanliness is a continuous movement that requires us all to be responsible and behave accordingly,' he noted.

Highlighting the state's progress towards sanitation targets, Zhimomi pointed out that Nagaland boasts 747 open defecation-free (ODF) plus villages as of September 30. He also commended the state's contribution to the 'Swachhta Hi Seva' campaign and encouraged collective effort to improve Nagaland's cleanliness ranking.

Ministers Sethrongkyu Sangtam, A Pangjung Jamir, and Kropol Vitsu participated in Swachhata activities to mark the event, where various awards were also distributed.

(With inputs from agencies.)