JICA ties up with Yokohama city to expand its Achhi Aadat (Good Habit) Campaign in Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Keeping in view the historical friendship between Yokohama city in Japan and Mumbai in India, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has decided to expand its Achhi Aadat (Good Habit) Campaign in Mumbai in a collaborative effort with Yokohama city.

JICA in partnership with Yokohama city has announced to supply Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) with hygiene-related goods including 3,000 bar soaps, 9,600 masks, 290 tote bags, and Information education and communication materials to the frontline workers.

An announcement to this effect was made by JICA early this month in New Delhi.

In January 2021, JICA had launched Achhi Aadat (Good Habit) to raise awareness about the importance of good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infectious diseases including COVID19. This program was implemented in collaboration with IJ Kakehashi Services Pvt. Ltd, and various NGOs, government authorities, and private companies to directly edify more than 30,000 people.

Not many people know that in 1965, owing to the efforts of the Indian community in Yokohama, the two cities – Yokohama and Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay) had concluded the first sister city agreement between India and Japan.

In June 1967, Dr. J. Leon D’Souza, the Mayor of then Bombay (Mumbai), and his wife visited Yokohama for the signing ceremony of the sister-city agreement. The objective of signing the sister-city agreement was to advance exchange between the two cities in areas such as cultural, technological, business, educational, and administrative, etc.

The two cities have shared various cross-cultural events and business relationships since then. In 2015, Yokohama’s Mumbai Representative Office was established to further strengthen the ties between India and Yokohama.

The main aim is towards attracting Indian businesses & companies to Yokohama and function as a communication channel & a support center for them. This would lead to the promotion of trade, business, and economic exchange between Yokohama and India.

As Saito Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India, puts it, “JICA has been relentlessly working with India to support in its fight against the pandemic and preparing the citizens to tackle the 3rd wave of Covid-19 in an efficient manner. The ‘Achhi Aadat’ Campaign has been successfully dispersing awareness about health and sanitation typically among the youth and children of the country. JICA believes that hygienic practices will not just reduce the rise of Covid-19 but also safeguard individuals from other viral infections. Globally, a large number of children die as a result of diarrheal infections, and it has been proven that washing hands with soap can substantially minimize this risk. This recent partnership with Yokohama city will help people act and practice the same thereby help in developing healthy habits in long term.”

The bar soaps provided in this activity are made in commemoration of this cooperation representing solidarity shared by two cities. The cover of the soap stipulates “For the people of Mumbai from Japan, Yokohama” with a QR code link of a video where Yokohama city is introduced to people in India. The tote bag was made in Yokohama city in 2020 to celebrate its 55th year anniversary of sister-city relations between both cities. Masks are donated by Ryohin Keikaku Reliance India Pvt Ltd who administers “MUJI” stores in Mumbai, Delhi, and NOIDA. MUJI offers a wide variety of good quality items from stationery to household items and apparel.

SHINAGAWA Masafumi, Chief of Mumbai Representative Office, The City of Yokohama, said, “It has been an honor to participate in the “Achhi Aadat (Good Habit)” Campaign. Although it has been difficult for our two cities to engage in adequate exchange due to the pandemic, I hope that we can stand together to overcome this situation. Last year, Yokohama and Mumbai celebrated their 55th anniversary as sister cities. I hope that we can continue to strengthen this bond in the years to come.”

On October 14 again, the Achhi Aadat campaign was launched simultaneously at 101 locations in 12 States, such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Thousands of people’s especially children, youth, and women and including the elected representatives of gram panchayats are participating in the campaign.