Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2019 is a massive nationwide awareness and mobilization campaign on Swachhata. The Swachhata Hi Seva 2019 is being organized from September 11 till October 2, 2019. PM Modi had set the goal of making India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the mega countrywide campaign- Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign on September 15, 2018.The SHS Campaign aims at accelerating the momentum of Swachh Bharat in the run-up to its 4th anniversary, re-energise the Andolan and lay down the foundation of sustainability, reinforce the concept of “Sanitation as everyone’s business”.

The movement aims to generate greater public participation towards Swachhata also to mobilize people and reinforce the public movement for sanitation to contribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Clean India. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (mission), was one of the first initiatives to be launched by the Modi Government when it came to power in 2014. It is a nationwide campaign with the aim to clean up Indian streets, roads, and the general infrastructure, i.e. an all-inclusive cleanliness mission.

Nagaland   also joined the rest of the country in launching the “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign a cleanliness initiative on 18th September 2019. This year’s campaign will be focused on Plastic Waste Management, given the detrimental effect of uncollected plastic waste on human beings, animals and the environment at large. From 3rd October till 27th October (Diwali), the collected plastic waste will then be effectively recycled and disposed.

Action points for SHS 2019 Nagaland are:

·         Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) means use-and-throw plastic items.

·         Segregation at source (recyclable and non-recyclable plastic).

·         Plastic has to be cleaned and dried.

·         No Burning of Waste of any kind.

·         No Littering of Waste; to use dustbins.

·         Carry own water bottle and jute/cloth shopping bag.

·         People’s Movement

·         Swachhata Hi Seva – Cleanliness Is Service to become a ‘Way of Life’.

·         Say No to Plastic.

Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign, 2019 will run from September 11 to October 27, 2019 wherein a large scale awareness and mass mobilization of plastic waste collection would be undertaken.  emphasizing on 5 (five) R’s – refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle SHS 2019 will discourage use of plastic products like artificial flowers, banners, flags, plastic stationary items and many other plastic materials for which alternative exists.

 All the state/UTs will organize large scale citizen engagement activities for awareness generation and community mobilization through voluntary service of clean and green drives, cleanliness pledges, cleanliness rallies etc in three phases.

The phase I (from September 11 to October 1), there would be the predatory and awareness generation period. Phase II (October 2 marking the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) would be marked with mass social voluntary work of plastic waste collection and phase III (from October 27) would be marked with collection, segregation, transportation for recycling and disposal-leading to a plastic free Diwali. Daily update of the progress of the SHS from all the districts will be uploaded in the government/ministry portal at sbm.gov.in/shs2019.

During the SHS 2019 campaign  in Nagaland large scale citizen engagement activities for awareness generation and community mobilization through Shramdaan, Clean & Green Drives, Swachhata Pledges, Swachhata Rallies, Competitions and Ploggings etc. should be aimed at mass scale plastic waste collection and disposal on the theme plastic-free India.

The campaign would require the active participation of all government departments, organizations in both the state and district levels, urban and rural areas, NGOs, individuals, business communities, religious institutions, schools, colleges etc in taking the state toward a ‘ single use plastic free Nagaland’. All Central and State Governments are being encouraged to ban the use of Single Use Plastic (SUP) products during the campaign period.

(A DIPR feature by Esuihangle, IA)