ITANAGAR, Oct 3: State Governor Lt General (Retd) KT Parnaik participated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas celebration at the Golden Jubilee Banquet Hall here on Thursday. He, accompanied by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries, felicitated the ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025’ awardees and paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Udyan earlier in the day, as Gandhi’s favourite bhajan Vaishnav Jan To was rendered by RGU students.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor said Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of cleanliness went beyond hygiene to respect for oneself, society, and surroundings. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for transforming attitudes toward sanitation but emphasized that the mission must now become a way of life.
“Waste management cannot be left only to government bodies—it requires every citizen’s responsibility. Cleanliness of body, mind, and intention can make Arunachal Pradesh a model of both cleanliness and progress,” he said, urging people to reduce plastic use and inspire others.
Highlighting challenges like urbanization and plastic waste, the Governor called for collective responsibility in tackling them. Presenting the Swachhata Awards 2025, he congratulated NGOs, SHGs, municipal councils, development agencies, and individuals for their outstanding contributions.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, praising the proactive role of youth in Swachh Bharat campaigns across towns, rivers, schools, and villages.
Chief Secretary Manish Gupta and Urban Affairs Commissioner Vivek Pandey also spoke on the occasion.
The event, jointly organized by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies and the Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department, featured an audiovisual presentation and report on Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025.
Awards were presented to several organizations including Nocte Mother Federation (Khonsa), NUMAI SHG (Hawai), SAMAVAYA SHG (Roing), Neli Puak Gumin SHG (Aalo), Benny Bene SHG (Kimin), Mingge-Bona SHG (Pasighat), New Light Foundation (Khonsa), AI Green Foundation (Roing), Azure Lotus Foundation (Dirang), and B-Sector Women’s Committee (Doimukh).
Pasighat Municipal Council, DUDA Yupia, DUDA Khonsa, DUDA Changlang, DUDA Longding, DUDA Anjaw, and DUDA Doimukh were recognized under various urban categories, while PHE & WS divisions of Basar, Roing, Pasighat, Changlang, and Sangram received awards under rural categories.
Dirang Market Welfare Association, Bazar Welfare Committee Palin, Aalo Old Bazar Committee, Pasighat Market Association, and the District Horticulture Office, Pasighat were awarded as best partner organizations.
In addition, 25 sanitary workers were honoured for their dedicated service under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
KHONSA: Along with the rest of the nation, Tirap district observed the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by conducting a Swachhata Hi Sewa cleanliness drive.
At Khonsa (district headquarters), Tirap ADC Namneet Singh administered the Clean India Pledge to mark the occasion. Administrative officers, HoDs, and government employees paid floral tributes at the statue of Gandhi.
To commemorate Gandhi Jayanti, a series of activities were organized across Tirap from September 17 by the Department of Urban Development in collaboration with the District Administration, Forest, Health, and Highway Departments. The programmes included plantation drives at various locations under the theme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.” In addition, a 6 km trek along the Ancient Trail from Borduria to Old Panduria was conducted on September 25, 2025, and the Department of Art & Culture organized a painting competition.
In his message, Tirap Deputy Commissioner Techu Aran—who is receiving an award from the Chief Minister for Swachhata Hi Sewa—appreciated all stakeholders for actively participating in the two-week-long cleanliness campaign across different locations.
The DC urged everyone to continue such cleanliness initiatives as a daily practice, emphasizing the collective efforts will ensure a healthy, green, and clean Tirap and contribute to a cleaner India.
NAMSAI: The 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated at Gandhi Chowk in Namsai Market, paying homage to the Father of the Nation. The event saw the presence of Nang Koliani Namchoom (ADC Namsai), Sarah E Borang (EAC Namsai) along with various departmental heads and officials.
The festivities commenced with a heartfelt rendition of “Ram Dhun” by students from GHSS Namsai, followed by a Sarva Dharam Prarthana led by religious leaders, symbolizing unity, peace, and harmony among diverse communities.
In her speech, EAC Sarah E. Borang highlighted the importance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and its significant role in promoting Arunachal Pradesh as a clean and attractive tourist destination. She emphasized that as the state's economy heavily relies on tourism, it is essential to maintain cleanliness as a civic obligation and a shared responsibility for sustainable development. She encouraged the community to engage actively in keeping public areas, facilities, and surroundings tidy and hygienic, thereby fulfilling Gandhiji’s vision of a clean and self-reliant nation.
During the event, uniforms and kits were presented to the sanitary workers in recognition of their dedicated service to the community.