CM Pema Khandu lauds Itanagar sanitation workers on Swachh Bharat Diwas
Synopsis
On Swachh Bharat Diwas 2026, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu praised IMC Mayor Smt. Likha Nari and the corporation's sanitation workers for their daily efforts to keep Itanagar clean.
Key Takeaways
CM Pema Khandu posted his appreciation on Swachh Bharat Diwas, 2 October 2026 .
The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) under Mayor Smt.
Likha Nari was praised for 'commendable work' in keeping the city clean.
Khandu specifically highlighted the 'dedicated' sanitation workers who 'work tirelessly every day.' The post coincides with India's national Swachh Bharat Diwas, observed on Gandhi Jayanti each year since the Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014.
On Swachh Bharat Diwas, 2 October 2026, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stepped into Itanagar to acknowledge the people who keep the state capital clean before sunrise — the sanitation workers of the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC).
Mayor Likha Nari and the IMC's cleanliness drive
CM Khandu directed his appreciation at Mayor Smt. Likha Nari, crediting her leadership for the 'commendable work' the IMC has been doing to maintain cleanliness across the city. The shout-out lands on the most symbolically loaded day in India's sanitation calendar — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which the central government observes as Swachh Bharat Diwas each year since the flagship Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014.
The workers behind the clean streets
The Chief Minister was pointed in singling out the IMC's sanitation workers, calling them 'dedicated' and recognising that they work 'tirelessly every day.' It is a rare, public acknowledgement for a workforce that keeps a hill-terrain capital functional — largely unseen. Itanagar, nestled in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, presents unique urban-sanitation challenges that ground-level workers navigate daily.
Point of View
Khandu lends the post a ground-level authenticity that goes beyond a routine Gandhi Jayanti gesture. For a state capital with hilly terrain and infrastructure constraints, civic sanitation is a genuine governance challenge — making the recognition politically meaningful, not just ceremonial.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swachh Bharat Diwas and when is it observed?
Swachh Bharat Diwas is observed on 2 October each year — Gandhi Jayanti — to mark the anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014. It celebrates progress in sanitation and cleanliness across India.
Who is the Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation?
Smt. Likha Nari is the Mayor of the Itanagar Municipal Corporation, as recognised by CM Pema Khandu in his Swachh Bharat Diwas 2026 post.
What did CM Pema Khandu say about Itanagar's cleanliness?
CM Khandu praised the IMC under Mayor Likha Nari for doing 'commendable work' to keep Itanagar clean, and gave special recognition to the sanitation workers who 'work tirelessly every day.'
What is the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC)?
The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) is the civic body responsible for urban governance and sanitation in Itanagar , the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.
