Sanitation and waste management took center stage on the 157th Gandhi Jayanti in Sikkim. In Gangtok, Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang launched several initiatives, including transfer of 12 modern equipment.
Gatok: On the occasion of 157th Gandhi Jayanti, a state level program focusing on cleanliness, waste management, hygiene and citizen participation was organized in Sikkim on Friday. Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang attended the function organized at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Gangtok. During the program, several initiatives related to modernizing the sanitation system, increasing the capacity of waste management and connecting citizens with the sanitation system were launched. Prominent among these were the transfer of 12 modern sewage and garbage collection equipment, awards to panchayats and urban bodies performing excellently in the sanitation sector and the launch of 'Safaa Gangtok' app.
12 modern equipment handed over under CSR
Gandhi Jayanti program started by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. With the handing over of 12 advanced sewage and garbage collection equipment to the Urban Development Department. These equipment were made available under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the company for the financial year 2026-27.
The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the mechanized sanitation system in Sikkim and reduce the dependence on human labor in sanitation operations. The program also emphasized that the use of modern equipment could make work safer for sanitation workers and support efforts to eliminate manual scavenging.
Tribute paid to Mahatma Gandhi
After the transfer of the equipment, Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Both of them also poured manure on Gandhi's statue.
In the program, linking cleanliness and civic responsibility with Gandhi's ideas, emphasis was laid on making cleanliness a shared responsibility of the community and not just the responsibility of government departments.
The Sikkim government had also launched the 'Swachhata Hi Seva 2026' campaign ahead of Gandhi Jayanti. The campaign was conducted from September 17 to October 2 and was themed “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”. The objective of the campaign was to increase citizen participation and strengthen sanitation and waste management systems in rural and urban areas of the state.
Pokok stood first in Swachh Gram Panchayat Award
The winners of the Cleanest Gram Panchayat Award 2026 were also announced in the program. Poklok Gram Panchayat Unit won the first position and was awarded prize money of ₹5 lakh.
Sukrabarey Suntalay GPU stood second and was awarded ₹3 lakh. While Passingdang Saffo GPU and Rimbi Timbong GPU jointly secured the third position. Both were given prize money of ₹1 lakh.
The objective of these awards is to encourage the efforts being made in rural local bodies for cleanliness, waste management and cleaning of public places.
Four sanitation workers received Swachhata Mitra Award
Four employees of Gangtok Sewerage Division were honored with Swachhata Mitra Awards for their contribution.
The awardees include Gopal Dahal, Mangal Tshering Lepcha, Laxman Sharma and Pema Gyatso Lepcha. Each award winner was given an amount of ₹10,000 and a Certificate of Appreciation.
This move to honor sanitation workers underlines the role of frontline workers in the sanitation system. The Sikkim government has earlier also emphasized on initiatives related to the safety and social security of sanitation workers.
Loyola College Winner in ENGAGE-2025-26 Contest
The results of ENGAGE-2025-26 Inter-College Competition were also announced during the event.
Loyola College of Education, Namchi secured first position in the competition. Harkamaya College of Education, Tadong stood second and Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Tadong stood third.
Through this competition, an effort was made to connect youth and educational institutions with cleanliness and civic participation.
Chandmari Ward awarded as the cleanest ward
Chandmari Ward was selected as the cleanest ward under Gangtok Municipal Corporation. He was awarded prize money of ₹1 lakh.
At the same time, Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) won the first place in the Cleanest Urban Local Body Awards and was given ₹ 8 lakh.
Nayabazar Jorethang Nagar Panchayat stood second and received ₹6 lakh, while Rangpo Nagar Panchayat secured the third position and was given prize money of ₹4 lakh.
Jagriti SHG gets award of ₹50,000
The participation of self-help groups in the cleanliness campaign was also recognised. Jagriti Self-Help Group (SHG) of Nayabazar, Jorethang was adjudged the best performing Self-Help Group under Swachha Shehar Abhiyaan.
The group was awarded prize money of ₹50,000. Under Swachh Shehar Abhiyaan in Sikkim, efforts are being made to connect SHGs with waste management and increase their participation in cleanliness activities at the local level.
'Safaa Gangtok' app launched
The major initiatives of the program also included the launch of Safaa Gangtok App. It has been developed by the Urban Development Department.
The objective of the app is to provide citizens easy access to services and complaints related to waste management. As per the app details available, citizens can register information about garbage collection or other related problems through the app. The complaint can be sent to the officer or supervisor of the concerned area and information about the status of its resolution is also made available.
In this way, the objective of linking the digital platform with the city's sanitation system is to strengthen the direct contact between citizens and the administration.
WOW Gangtok Report and Waste Management Vehicles
WOW Gangtok Report based on waste management initiatives in Gangtok was also released in the programme.
Apart from this, a waste management vehicle was handed over to the state government on behalf of GNS Builders. These initiatives aim to strengthen the existing system of waste collection and management in urban areas.
The Government of Sikkim is already running several programs to enhance sanitation related infrastructure in urban and rural areas. 17 sanitation and waste management vehicles were also dispatched to the state during the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign launched in September. These included Mobile Treatment Units, cesspool vehicles and Resource Recovery Vehicles.
Logo of National Badminton Championship also launched
The official mascot and logo of Yonex-Sunrise 49th Inter State, Inter Zonal & Junior National Badminton Championships 2026 was also digitally launched during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.
This added sports activities to the Gandhi Jayanti program along with cleanliness and civic initiatives.
Emphasis on citizen participation in cleanliness
Cabinet ministers, MLAs, senior government officials, representatives of Gangtok Municipal Corporation, councilors and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
The main message of the program was that cleanliness and better waste management cannot be achieved through government machinery alone. For this, participation of local bodies, sanitation workers, self-help groups, educational institutions and common citizens is necessary.
The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign of 2026 in Sikkim was also conducted under the same concept of community participation. In the campaign, the state government had appealed to the citizens to take a pledge of volunteering 100 hours every year for cleanliness and community service.
The initiatives launched during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in Gangtok underlined the direction of linking cleanliness with technology, local bodies, self-help groups and citizen participation. The state has focused on making the sanitation and waste management system more systematic and participatory through modern tools, digital complaint system and performance based awards.