To encourage community participation in the “Swachchhta Abhiyaan”, the Haryana Government has decided to observe second Saturday of every month as ‘Samudayik Swachchhta Diwas’ in the State.
The State Government has decided to voluntarily devote an hour on that day for cleanliness in all Government offices, educational institutions and other public places. The active participation of school students would also be ensured under this cleanliness drive.
A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of Governing Body of Haryana State Swachchh Bharat Mission Society held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar lal.
In Haryana, eight districts namely Panchkula, Sirsa, Panipat, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Fatehabad, Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra have already been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Four more districts of Bhiwani, Hisar, Jhajjar and Rewari are likely to achieve ODF status by the end of this month. During the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the officers to make separate toilets for girls in all schools, especially in rural areas.
It was informed that the school Education Department has made a comprehensive plan to construct toilets for girls in all schools depending upon the number of girl students. And, instructions have also been issued to all schools that toilets meant for students should not be diverted for the use of staff. Besides, the schools have also been directed to submit certificate that all the toilets are functional.
The Chief Minister was apprised that about 3,000 new toilets have been constructed in Anganwadis in the state from September 30, 2016 to till date and efforts are being made to provide toilet facility in all anganwadis in the State.
Notably, in line with its ambitious ‘Swachchh Haryana, Swachchh Bharat’ campaign, the Haryana Government had last year announced a new scheme of ‘Swaran Jayanti Award for Sanitation’ under which awards are given to gram panchayats and wards of urban local bodies every month for maintaining sanitation.