TEZPUR, Oct 11 � �Sanitation is more important than independence� � this is how the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi emphasised cleanliness. As a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Tezpur University conducted a week-long programme on sanitation from October 2.
On the inaugural day, Registrar of the university, Dr Biren Das administered the pledge of the mission which was repeated by all present including students, faculty and staff members which was followed by a cleaning exercise in and around the university campus. On the occasion, faculty in-charge of NCC, Dr Bala Lakhindra delivered a lecture addressing the students and the local public on the essentiality of public hygiene and sanitation. The inaugural day witnessed a high enthusiasm among the participants towards the mission with Prof MA Kalam, Professor of Eminence in Sociology appealing to one and all to take up this noble mission sincerely and maintain it consistently.
During the week-long campaign, a mini marathon was organised from the community hall of the university covering the neighbouring areas of Amolapam village and Napaam centre with an aim of encouraging the local public to participate in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. A street play Swachhataki was organised mainly to create awareness among the villagers about the need of clean households and toilet habits. Further, all the statues and busts installed at the campus were cleaned which include those of Agnikanya Chandraprabha Saikiani, Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi. A large number of local people joined the Tezpur University community in cleaning the adjacent areas on the concluding day of the mission.
On the concluding day, a cycle rally was taken out in the evening from the university main gate to Panchmile centre where another street play Swachhataki Ore was staged. Through this play, the harmfulness of indiscriminate garbage throwing was exposed and a message was sent out to the public on the necessity of keeping the surroundings and the environment clean and healthy.
