Maharashtra govt to build 56 lakh toilets

[Peaceful Civilian]

Good initiative by Government, it will decrease tiolet problem by some extent.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
11-October, 2018 15:10 IST
Government is keen to eradicate Manual Scavenging on a time bound basis - Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot

6th meeting of central monitoring committee to review implementation of "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 held

“6th Meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee to review the implementation of the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" (MS Act, 2013)” held here today under the chairmanship of Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. Shri Ram Das Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Smt. Neelam Sawhney, Secretary of the Ministry were present. The meeting was also attended by the Vice Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Chairman, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, Non-official members of the Committee, representatives from the Central Ministries/Departments and the State Governments / Union Territory administrations and Social Workers working for the welfare of manual scavengers/sanitation workers.



Addressing on the occasion, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot said that the Government is keen to eradicate the manual scavenging on a time bound basis for which the State Governments have been urged to implement the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 in letter and spirit. This important Central Act was enacted by the Parliament in September, 2013 and has come into force in December, 2014. It aims at complete elimination of the manual scavenging in its various manifestations and comprehensive rehabilitation of the identified manual scavengers.



He said that 13,657 manual scavengers have, so far, been identified in 13 States. However, keeping in view the large number of insanitary latrines replaced in house listing and household data of Census-2011, the States have been asked to revisit their survey by using the wider definition of manual scavenging as given in the MS Act, 2013 to ensure that all the persons who are cleaning un-decomposed septage manually are identified and listed as manual scavengers.



The Minister said that Government is implementing a Self- Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of identified manual scavengers under which onetime cash assistance, skill development training and loan subsidy are provided for rehabilitation of identified manual scavengers onetime cash assistance of Rs.40000/- each has been released to 12991 identified manual scavengers till date. Proposals for skill development training for 13587 manual scavengers and their dependents and self-employment proposals for 944 manual scavengers and their dependents have been sanctioned.



He said that a Task Force was constituted for carrying out a National Survey of manual scavengers in 170 identified Districts of 18 States. National Survey has been completed in 163 of the 170 identified districts. 50,644 persons have registered in the camps up to 01.10.2018, of which claims of 20,596 persons have been accepted after identification and subsequent verification as manual scavengers. Data of the identified manual scavengers is being digitized in National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and data of 11,757 manual scavengers has been digitized up to 01.10.2018. Onetime cash assistance has been released to 8438 identified manual scavengers.



NSKFDC has held number of awareness camps to motivate the manual scavengers and their dependents to undertake skill development training so that they are suitably equipped for employment on sustainable basis or start their self-employment ventures.



Though hazardous cleaning of septic tanks is prohibited under the MS Act, 2013, a number of septic tanks related deaths have been reported from time to time. Such cases are taken up with the concerned State Government for payment of compensation of Rs.10 lakhs as per Supreme Court orders. The States have been urged to take steps for total mechanization of septic tanks and sewers to prevent such deaths.



Ministry of Labour has also advised the State to carry out a special inspection drives to identify and prosecute employers and contractors who are violating the provision of Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 and MS Act, 2013 and forcing workmen to do manual scavenging.



The Committee has recommended simplification of the survey guidelines to fast track identification of manual scavengers.

*****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
03-November, 2018 17:16 IST
Swachh Bharat Mission announces World Toilet Day Contest for District Collectors

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation today announced the Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest for districts and States. As the Swachh Bharat Mission enters its fifth and final year, the purpose of the Contest is to encourage all districts in India to re-intensify the sanitation people's movement with a special focus on ODF Sustainability.

For 10 days in the run-up to the World Toilet Day, i.e. from 9th November to 19th November 2018, districts across the country will compete on a range of Swachhta activities to sustain and reinforce the behaviour change outcomes achieved by them so far.

As per the advisory issued by the Ministry, Top 10 District Collectors, along with the Top 3 State Mission Directors/State Secretary in-charge of Sanitation will be recognized and awarded by the Swachh Bharat Mission and will also win a chance to interact and share experience with Swachh Bharat brand ambassador, and Actor Shri Akshay Kumar. Ministry has called upon districts and States for high participation in the contest and for qualitative Swachhta activity by engaging with the community.

The Contest does not apply to the five States of, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.

Districts can apply for the Contest from the online portal sbm.gov.in/wtd2018. The application window will be open from World Toilet Day, i.e. November 19, 2018 to November 30, 2018.

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AR/SNC/SD

 

[Hindustani78]

Prime Minister's Office
19-November, 2018 11:19 IST
PM’s message on World Toilet Day

Following is the text of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s message on World Toilet Day.

“Today, on World Toilet Day, we reiterate our commitment towards enhancing cleanliness and sanitation facilities across the nation. We in India take pride at the remarkable speed with which sanitation cover has increased in the last four years.

The movement for a cleaner India and ensuring better sanitation facilities is a people’s movement. It is the 130 crore Indians, particularly women and youngsters who have taken the lead in this movement. I congratulate all those working to fulfil the dream of a Swachh Bharat.”

***

AKT/SH

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
19-November, 2018 18:54 IST
Speed of sanitation coverage is India’s pride: Prime Minister

Swachh Bharat Mission leads Countrywide World toilet day celebrations

With the country's toilet coverage reaching close to completion, people from across the country today celebrated the World Toilet Day with mass awareness and mobilization activities. The focus was on usage of toilets, which is closely linked to the Prime Minister’s call for a Swachh Bharat by October 2019.

In a tweet on this occasion, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reiterated the country’s commitment towards enhancing cleanliness and sanitation facilities. He said, “We in India take pride at the remarkable speed with which sanitation cover has increased in the last four years.”



The Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation culminated today with massive community activities across States and districts. School children, health workers and Anganwadi workers and common people came out in large numbers on World Toilet Day to reaffirm their commitment to keep their villages open defecation free. Men, women and children took Swachhta oaths; school children marched through villages and performed plays spreading the message of Swachhta; videos and other demonstrations were shown on the use of twin pit technology; mass hand washing drives were taken up and Swachhta champions were awarded and recognized.

In a special event, CEO NITI Aayog, Shri. Amitabh Kant and Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri. Parameswaran Iyer emptied a toilet pit and then participated in " Toilet Parliament " organized in village Vajidpur in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The Toilet Parliament resolved that the community would sustain its ODF status, convert all single pit toilets to twin pits, promote composting, eliminate plastic usage and use organic fertilizers in the district.

Shri. Amitabh Kanth underscored the importance of manure coming out from twin pit toilets. He said this manure multiplies the productivity of farm land ten times. Shri. Parameswaran Iyer congratulated the village and the district for achieving ODF status. He said the six resolutions demonstrate the commitment of the village to sustain the ODF outcomes. Swachhagrahis, Swachhata Champions, Members of the Nigrani Samiti were felicitated on the occasion for making the district ODF.

The Districts and States who have taken the best set of initiatives during the World Toilet Day will be awarded by the MDWS at national level.

****

AR/SNC/SD

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
19-November, 2018 15:29 IST
SOP’S For Cleaning of Sewers & Septic Tanks Released to Ensure Safety/ Prevent Critical Accidents for Field Staff

33,000+ Toilets Across 800+ Cities Already Live & Open to Reviews from Citizens on Google Maps 60.53 Lakh Individual Household Toilets & 4.7 Lakh Seats of Community / Public Toilets Constructed/Under Construction 19 States /Uts Already open Defecation Free (ODF With More Than 94% of Towns/ Cities Already odf 40% of Total Waste Generated Being Processed--52% Of Wards Practising Source Segregation National Workshop on Urban Sanitation on World Toilet Day Organised

The Government has released the Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) for Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks for use by field staff who respond to sanitary sewer overflows or spills, in order to ensure their safety and prevent critical accidents. Making the announcement during the celebration of the World toilet Day here today, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment felicitated the winners of the Technology Challenge under the AMRUT Mission and expressed confidence that innovative solutions emerging from initiatives such as this would enable safer management of human waste, without endangering human life. The workshop on urban sanitation is aimed at addressing challenges in the urban sanitation space thereby enable participating states and cities in proactively implementing viable, affordable and sustainable sanitation solutions for a Swachh Bharat. Shri Anil Baijal, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, M/O Housing and Urban Affairs and more than 500 dignitaries comprising Municipal Commissioners and senior officers from AMRUT cities, and other stakeholders working in the area of urban sanitation attended the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Baijal said that the feature of locating public toilets on Google Maps had the potential to solve a major issue that citizens face today – that of finding toilets that are clean, functional and usable. While he acknowledged that the condition of several community and public toilets provide scope for improvement, he was glad to note that there are 33,000+ toilets across 800+ cities already LIVE and open to reviews from citizens on Google Maps. Shri Baijal appreciated the SBM Toilet Monitoring Tool Dashboard launched by the Ministry that would serve as a governance and monitoring tool for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by providing them with the true picture of the condition of public toilets in their area and help them take corrective action.

Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, MoHUA, touched upon the achievements of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) so far. He mentioned that 19 states and UTs are already Open Defecation Free (ODF) in their urban areas, and more than 94% of towns and cities already ODF. This has been achieved by the construction of nearly 60.53 lakh Individual Household Toilets (against Mission target of 66 lakhs; i.e. 91.7% constructed and under construction against target), and 4.7 lakh seats of community / public toilets (against Mission target of 5.07 lakh seats; i.e. 92.7% constructed and under construction against target) under the Mission. In the area of solid waste management, approximately, 40% of the total waste generated in the country is being processed, and 52% of wards are practising source segregation.

The book of case studies titled ‘Transforming Urban Landscapes of India: Success Stories on Sanitation’ which documents good practices on sanitation from across the country was also released on the occasion. Simultaneously, a document detailing the enabling factors that have contributed to the success of SBM-U titled ‘Cleaning Urban India’ and the ‘Advisory on Public and Community Toilets’ focusing on an end-to-end approach for planning, designing, construction, operation and maintenance, and upgradation of public and community facilities and related infrastructure and a coffee table book highlighting activities undertaken in urban areas during the Swachhata hi Seva campaign (15 September – 2 October 2018) were also released by the Ministry.

An exhibition showcasing innovations in sanitation from across the country such as special toilets for women, senior citizens and third gender, 4-in- 1 portable urinals for men, on-site faecal sludge, and septage management technologies, and the like was also organized on the sidelines of the event.

The rest of the day had stakeholders discussing sustainable technology options for faecal sludge & septage management with presentations from States such as Punjab, Odisha, Chhatisgarh, Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana. Participants also engaged in discussions on innovations in the sanitation space and looked at exploring private sector participation in urban sanitation with panel representatives from organizations such as USAID, Water Health and CDD Society.
***

RJ/KGS