(The Gist of Kurukshetra) SWACHHTA SOLDIERS

[JULY-2018]

SWACHHTA SOLDIERS

SITAMARHI PULLS OFF AMBITIOUS PIT – DIGGING CAMPAIGN

People of the district of Sitamarhi in Bihar contributed to digging of as many as 1,03,232 pits as a part of their campaign titled Gaddha Khodo Shauchalay Banao Abhiyan on 11th June, 2018. The move was intended to give a boost to the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) campaign and complete the balance toilets required to make the district open defecation free (ODF). The campaign began at 8 am on 11th June when the District Magistrate, Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Singh himself dug 8 pits. As for the rest of the pits, every one pitched in to help. From district officials, to personnel from various government departments to PRI representatives to individuals from all walks of life everyone joined in to meet the target and bring about access to sanitation for all.

Considered the birth place of Sita (jagat Janani MaaJaanki), Sitamarhi in Bihar, is a northern district of Bihar, located near the Nepal border. It is one of the most backward districts of the country with 85% of its population living below the poverty line and literacy pegged at 52%. The district is also prone to natural disasters, going by the 13 national disasters it has experienced so far. Floods are common each year and the district is low of various socio-economic indicators such as literacy, owing to which, it has been adopted as NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District.

As far as sanitation is concerned, in October 2014, coverage was barely 21.3%. Over the past 3 years, as many as 3.11 lakhs toilets were built of which, 2.38 lakhs were completed in 2017. In addition to such toilet construction activity, there has been extensive triggering and awareness building exercises with a view to bringing about behaviour change. Yet, at the beginning of June 2018, approximately 1.10 lakh households still needed toilets. According to ZSBP-Sitamarhi, Guru Ratnam, the Gaddha Khodo Shauchalay Banao campaign was called for by the District Magistrate who has previously run other ambitious campaigns such as enrolling of 17,006 students in one hour in government schools; and organizing a Prabhat Pheri that saw a record attendance of 16 lakh people about 10 days ago.

It was riding on this momentum of mass mobilization that the pit digging campaign was organized. Ahead of the campaign, the district administration had carried out a detailed survey of households left out of the 2012 Baseline Survey. Thereafter, trained swachhagrahis or motivators were sent out to those homes to convince them to build toilets. People were persuaded to provide free labour for the pit digging campaign. In addition, a nodal officer was assigned to every 200 households, even as multi-layered monitoring was carried out. Guru Ratnam said that at 5 pm on 11th June, digging of 56754 pits was completed, leaving a balance of 44,000 pits. Most of all, the event showcased people-power and what the effective convergence of all government departments, private sector and the general public could achieve when they cooperated and worked together for a noble cause. Even the local MLAs and MP5 joined in and offered their support. As of now, of the 17 blocks in the district, 3 are ODF. This Gaddha Khodo Shauchalay Banao Abhiyan is likely to make the remaining 14 blocks ODF, following which a detailed verification will be done.

BAL SWACHHATA RATHS’, ‘DIAL ODF’WW VANS IN KASHI VIDYAPITH BLOCK OF VARANASI

Given that it is easy for people to revert to their old behaviour of defecating in the open, officials of Kashi Vidyapith Block in Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh are making all possible efforts to sustain their recently achieved open defecation free (ODF) status. The block situated on the banks of the River Ganga was the first in the district to be declared ODF on 23rd October 2017.

In addition, they have started three ’Bal Swachhata Raths’ to monitor quality of toilets in schools and anganwadis. Poor maintenance and unused school toilets are the major reason behind failure of villages to sustain ODF status as noticed during the third party ODF verification. The team in each van comprises an officer and 3 safaikarmis, equipped with cleaning material and equipment to clean toilets immediately, if found dirty. They will also fill in a questionnaire about quality and usage of toilets and report back to office. Action will be taken for improvement, based on their reports.

In addition, three ’Dial ODF’ vans have been launched for each of the tehsils. These vans will carry PRD (Prantiya Raksha Dal) Jawans to assist the Nigrani Samitis in each of three tehsils. A complaint and feedback landline is also in place and the number has been publicized so people can complain about ODF issues. Nigrani samitis have been given uniforms and a set target, based on which incentives will be provided.

‘Kachra Mahotsava’

‘Kachra Mahotsava’ (garbage festival) have been organized from time to time with the purpose to create an awareness people on upcycling, recycling and reuse of waste products effectively, more so creatively. On his visit to Kachra Mahotsava in Varanasi, PM said that it was a wonderful initiative, and such festivals are vital for spreading awareness or cleanliness and giving strength to the Swachh Bharat Mission. The idea of organizing a garbage festival in PM Modi’s constituency Varanasi came from Raipur’s Kachra Mahotsava, which was held from January 19 – January 22, and was even lauded by PM Modi in his 41st edition of “Mann Ki Baat” radio talks.

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Courtesy: Kurukshetra