Launching the National Sanitation Awareness Campaign for Nagaland here, Zeliang said most of the urban poor tend to be excluded from these sanitation services.
"This is the primary cause of water contamination and water-borne diseases," he said, adding that improving the water and sanitation problem in an urban setting is not an easy task, as the required infrastructure, either new or upgraded, are restricted.
"It must also be able to sustain future urban development and expansion," he said.
He called upon the all tribal organisations, churches, village councils and the VDBs to be involved in implementation of this programme.
Capacity building for Anganwadi workers and school teachers may also be undertaken, he said while suggesting that a simple guide book can be made, containing accurate and relevant messages, information and knowledge content, under various themes, such as, personal hygiene, use of toilets, safe storage and handling of water, hand washing after defecation, hand washing before and after taking food and environmental sanitation including management of waste.