222/2024-2025

17th September, 2024 : Serchhip District Deputy Commissioner Pu Paul L. Khuma inaugurated the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) Campaign today at the Serchhip DC Conference Hall. The event marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and aligns with the celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign is a cornerstone of India’s nationwide cleanliness initiative, aiming to foster a sense of responsibility towards cleanliness among all citizens. This campaign, part of the broader Swachh Bharat Mission, has been actively implemented for seven years, building on the ten-year success of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The opening ceremony of the campaign was followed by a Cleanliness Rally, which began at the DC grounds and proceeded to IOC. The rally, flagged off by DC Pu Paul L. Khuma, aimed to promote awareness among citizens and highlight the collective commitment to maintaining cleanliness.

The Swachhata Hi Seva program will continue til the 2nd of October and will include a range of activities, such as:

- VC-wide cleanliness drives

- Blackspot cleaning initiatives

- Cleaning of water sources and surrounding areas

- Cleanliness drives at schools and office premises

- Student competitions and waste-to-art exhibitions

- Prizes for the cleanest VC area, cleanest volunteer, and cleanest rural village

- Free medical check-ups for sanitation workers

Serchhip District has achieved remarkable milestones in cleanliness. It was awarded first place in the Mizoram Cleanliness Competition, 2023 in the category of District Headquarters. It was also received Award for Citizen Feedback in the North East zone of the Swachh Survekshan-2022. The district was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) on July 26, 2017, and attained ODF Plus status on July 20, 2022. East Lungdar RD Block stands as the first ODF Plus block in Mizoram, while Serchhip Town achieved ODF status on December 31, 2017.

The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Sr. EE PHE Pu Isaac Lalchhuanmawia, who underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving cleanliness goals. The event also featured presentations by UD&PA and PHED representatives, explaining their respective roles and achievements in urban and rural cleanliness efforts.