Port Blair, Dec 15: The Indian Coast Guard celebrated “Swachhta Pakhwada” between 1st to 15th Dec 17 throughout the Isles, spearheading the GOI flagship programme “Swatchhta Pakhwada”.
The theme of the “Swachhta Pakhwada” was to spread swachhta awareness and implementation across the Coast Guard establishments, Government schools and fishing community hamlets with a focus on role of women and children in taking a leadership role for community led swachhta initiatives. The strategy executed by Coast Guard included all possible areas towards “Swatchhta Abhiyan” including public beaches, cleaning of in and around areas of Coast Guard establishment/residential places, tree plantation drives and awareness campaign at various Govt schools, public parks and beaches frequently visited by people.
The “Swachhta Pakhwada” programme was flagged off from all Coast Guard establishments on 1st Dec 2017. During the Pakhwada, various cleanliness drives were organized in association with Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association wherein photos were also taken of the activities and printed and transmitted every day by print and electronic media in Andaman & Nicobar.
During “Swatchhta Pakhwada” culmination, Inspector General KR Suresh, Tatrakshak Medal, Commander Coast Guard Region(A&N), emphasised on translating Swachhta to our Swabhav or habit. Flag Officer reiterated that Nari Shakti has taken the lead in preserving and furthering cleanliness. This spirit was highlighted throughout the celebration of Swachhta Pakhwada by Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association and same was appreciated by the Flag Officer.
Main objective of the Swachhta Pakhwada was ‘cleanliness, inside out’ – to sensitize and ensure good health and hygiene by providing women and children with awareness on clean and safe environment, personal health, hygiene and good practices of cleanliness, in order to create safe, healthy, clean and green environment.
The highlights of the “Swachhta Pakhwada” were; Special community Interaction programmes for fishing communities across the Isles including various remotely located Islands, wherein fishermen and their families were sensitised about importance of cleanliness and sanitation, and were advised to designate Swachhta Doots among women as the women and children have a pivotal role to play in the Swachhta Mission.
Swachhta Pledge and cleanliness drives including face lift of various government schools from north Andaman to southernmost Campbell bay Islands including Kamorta, Little Andaman, Mayabandar and Diglipur. The students were encouraged to ensure cleanliness around them and run programs to sensitize all members of their family and community.
Signing board/pledge board, Posters, slogans writing, painting and debate competition were conducted for service personnel with children and frontline functionaries like Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association.
Demonstration of activities on sanitation and hygiene like hand washing and hygienic methods at schools and fishing community hamlets.
Drawing, painting competition among children. Symposium among service personnel on “Increasing technology a boon or bane to environment”. Session on health, hygiene and sanitation for women and children. Tree plantation drives at various places, wherein approx 1000 saplings were planted across Isles.
Display of IEC materials like posters and distribution of pamphlets/batches.
Indian Coast Guard took up utmost efforts for mobilizing people participation and to ensure that the mission truly becomes a citizen’s movement during “Swachhta Pakhwada”. In past also, Coast guard has been focusing on cleaner beaches and surroundings of these pristine Isles including tree plantation drives.
