Even as dumping of varied waste in the Ganga river has continued in various forms in the State of its origin-Uttarakhand, the authorities have started procedures for making all villages along the Ganga river open defecation free (ODF).
The authorities are seeking youth volunteers to support from different bodies for this behaviour change campaign in the 52 districts under Swachchh Bharat Mission. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is reportedly stepping up support to the five Ganga States—Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal-to make all villages on Ganga’s banks ODF. According to Government sources, there are 5,169 villages under 1,651 Gram Panchayats (GPs), 52 districts and five states along the national river Ganga.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs, under the coordination of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, is enlisting the support of youth agencies like Bharat Scouts and Guides, Nehru Yuva Kendra and National Service Scheme. These organisations will be called upon to provide local youth volunteers to support a behaviour change campaign in the 52 districts under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
A nodal officer has been identified for each district to work on making their district ODF in mission mode, as well as to focus on ‘Swachhata’ at the village level through proper solid and liquid waste management and maintaining general cleanliness. In addition to this, officials state that extensive interpersonal behaviour change communication training will also be imparted to local trainers through a network of virtual classrooms across the five Ganga States.
Through a series of video conferences, the local district administrations of the state have already been advised to mobilise local NGOs, associations, private sector organisations, faith-based organisations and developmental agencies to support this work.
Observers point out that though both the Central and State authorities claim to be progressing in efforts aimed at cleaning the Ganga, the continued dumping of various solid and liquid wastes in the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttarakhand present a picture far from the claims.