Smt. Drimsibon Kharkongor, Principal of Dinet Manik SyiemMemorial Higher Secondary School, Nongthymmai, appreciated the initiative of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Shillong, for organising an awareness programme on Swachhata and Nutrition, stating that such efforts are vital in shaping responsible habits among students. She emphasised that schools can serve as model institutions for maintaining hygiene and promoting healthy lifestyles, enabling students to carry these practices into their homes and communities.
Aligned with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission and POSHAN Abhiyaan, CBC Shillong organised the programme to promote awareness on hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition, with a focus on behavioural change and community participation. Reflecting the Jan Andolan approach, the initiative underscored the importance of collective responsibility, convergence of efforts, and sustained engagement to achieve improved sanitation and nutritional outcomes.
The programme was designed to be highly interactive, featuring a series of quiz and art competitions that allowed students to creatively express their understanding of hygiene, sanitation, and dietary balance. The enthusiasm displayed by the participants served as a testament to their commitment to these vital social causes. Prizes were awarded to students to celebrate their active participation.
Delivering the session on Swachhata, Smti. Palvy Dora Lyngdoh, IEC Specialist, Urban Affairs Department highlighted behavioural change as the foundation of sustainable sanitation. She elaborated on the provisions of the SWM Rules 2026, with special emphasis on the safe handling and scientific disposal of sanitary waste and other special care waste, advocating a lifecycle approach to waste management. Stressing practices such as segregation at source, zero littering, and the principle of “My Waste, My Responsibility,” she encouraged students to adopt environmentally responsible habits.
She also noted that schools can lead by example by institutionalising cleanliness practices, ensuring proper waste segregation systems, and promoting student-led initiatives, thereby emerging as role models for the community. The session was highly interactive, with students actively engaging in discussions on improving sanitation practices both within school premises and at home.
Addressing the nutrition component, Smti. Odalin Sumer, District Health Education Officer, East Khasi Hills, emphasisedthe importance of a balanced diet rich in essential micronutrients for proper growth, immunity and cognitive development. She encouraged students to incorporate locally available nutritious foods into their daily meals, promoting dietary diversity and sustainable eating habits. She also highlighted the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme as an important intervention to combat anaemia and improve overall well-being among adolescents.
The programme provided an engaging platform for students, reinforcing the role of schools as centres of learning as well as catalysts for behavioural change, capable of setting benchmarks in hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition for the wider community.
