Aizawl, Oct 01: The Christian-dominated Mizoram state government chose not to observe Swachhata Pakhwada – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2023, the nationwide cleanliness drive, on October 1, as it coincided with a Sunday. Instead, the state opted to launch the cleanliness drive on Monday, October 2, which is Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and the traditional start of Cleanliness Week.
In a notification issued by the State Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation department, it was announced that the nationwide cleanliness drive would begin on Monday.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga explained the decision on his Instagram handle, stating that historically, Cleanliness Week had always started on October 2, in honor of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. However, this year, the central government extended the cleanliness drive from September 15 to October 2 for more effective implementation.
Given that October 1 falls on a Sunday, a day when churchgoers attend their respective places of worship, the government decided to postpone the nationwide cleanliness drive to Monday, October 2, to ensure the participation of all church members. Therefore, October 2 will mark the commencement of Cleanliness Week in the state.
Earlier, Chief Minister Zoramthanga had met with representatives of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of leaders from major church denominations in the state. The MKHC leaders expressed their opposition to the proposed observance of the nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1, which they considered a sacred day for Christians around the world.
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The MKHC leaders emphasized that Sunday is a day for worship in almost all local churches and argued that organizing government functions on that day was unacceptable. They urged the Chief Minister to defer the observance of the nationwide cleanliness drive to October 2. In response, the church leaders pledged to support the state Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department by sharing the message of the cleanliness drive during Sunday prayer and worship services.
Several civil society organizations and political parties also voiced objections to holding functions on a Sunday. However, despite these objections, the Swachhata Pakhwada – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2023, was observed at Raj Bhavan in Aizawl and some central institutes, including paramilitary forces and central government office premises, in the state on Sunday.
