Srinagar becomes “Model District” under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen 2.0

Srinagar district has become a “Model District” in India under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) 2.0, said an official.

According to an official release issued, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, the District has achieved the journey of making all 26 villages as “Model villages” and completed the target of 100% Model Villages under the prestigious cleanliness scheme Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-G 2.0).

In a release issued, the District had embarked on a cleanliness mission to transform its rural villages into Model Villages with a vision to enhance the living standards of its inhabitants, improve infrastructure and promote sustainable development, stating that the initiative aims to bring about a comprehensive socio-economic upliftment. 

According to a statement, the Srinagar District (Rural) comprises of four CD-Blocks Harwan, Khonmoh. Srinagar and Qamarwari having jurisdiction of 21 Gram Panchayats comprising of 26 villages from the picturesque foothills of Faqir Gujree, Harwan to Sangri Khonmoh and plain areas of Lasjan, Nowgam, and Panzinara.

“To achieve the vision to reality, a rigorous saturation campaign was launched to ensure that all the Households, Schools/Anganwari Centers. Panchayat Ghars in the villages of the district have access to a functional toilet, with separate facilities for men and women”, said a government spokesman.

The officials said that besides, a number of drains/soakage pits were constructed in the villages for disposal of grey water in forward linkage with UEED of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, saying all 26 villages of District Srinagar were declared as ODF Plus in Aspiring Category.  

The officials added that while embarking into next category of sanitation to make these villages ODF plus rising, segregation sheds and compost pits were constructed for solid waste management to segregate the waste and its proper. 

“A massive sanitation drive was launched on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar in all the Gram Panchayats by way of door-to-door collection of waste and its proper disposal by roping in village sanitation Committees, Welfare Committee, an outsourced agency namely “SAAF (A group of volunteers)”, which has yielded results and villages observed to have a minimal litter, minimal stagnant waste water, and no plastic waste dump”, reads the statement.

The statement reads that a massive IEC campaign was launched in all the villages by engraving paintings at prominent places depicting messages/slogans with regard to the benefits of cleanliness, thereby the villages became ODF Plus Model. 

Pertinent to mention that the Central Government has approved the Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) till 2024-25 with a focus on Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus), which includes ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM). The program will also work towards ensuring that no one is left behind and everyone uses a toilet. 

Under the program, the provision for the incentive of Rs.12,000/- for the construction of Individual Household Toilet (IHHL) to the newly emerging eligible households as per the existing norms will continue.

Funding norms for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) have been rationalized and changed to a per capita basis in place of no. of households. Additionally, financial assistance to the Gram Panchayats (GPs) for the construction of the Community Managed Sanitary Complex (CMSC) at the village level has been increased from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.3 lakh per CMSC.

In addition, the SBM-G Phase II will continue to generate employment and provide impetus to the rural economy through the construction of household toilets and community toilets, as well as infrastructure for SLWM such as compost pits, soak pits, waste stabilization ponds, material recovery facilities, etc.

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