Chhattisgarh is positioned second in the country in construction of community and public toilets at 3,570 on implementation of Clean India Mission in urban areas of the country during the first three months of the current financial year, officials informed.
Delhi leads the list of performers in respect of 5,776 toilet seats followed by Chhattisgarh at 3,570, Maharashtra(2,520), Chandigarh((2,424) and Karnataka(1,680). These five accounted for 86% of total number of community and public toilet seats constructed so far.
Tamil Nadu is way ahead of others in Solid Waste Management with 9,935 wards out of the total of 13,667 wards reporting 100% door to door collection of waste.
It is followed by Karnataka(3962/5252), Madhya Pradesh (3024/6855), Andhra Pradesh(2295/3276), and Gujarat(1506/1730).
In all, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana are in the forefront of implementing Clean India Mission in urban areas.
The Urban Development Ministry is constantly monitoring the programme having held three video-conferences with the States/UTs last month.
Applications were received from the States and Union Territories for construction of 30,41,097 individual household toilets as against the target of construction of one crore such toilets by the year 2019 out of which the Ministry of Urban Development has sanctioned 13,64,814 toilets.
Regarding construction of over 5 lakh community and public toilet seats, the Ministry has sanctioned 82,438.
Under the Clean India Mission in urban areas, 17,411 community and public toilet seats have been built during April-June, 2015 as against 1,222 during October-March of the last financial year. During the said period, 1,13,000 individual household toilets have been constructed as against 2.70 lakhs built during the six months of last financial year.
Since the launch of Clean India Mission in October last year, a total of 3.83 lakh individual household toilets and 17,411 community and public toilets have been constructed.
In respect of Solid Waste Management, 28,908 wards out of the total of 78,003 wards in all the States/UTs have reported 100% door to door collection of solid waste. About 21% of municipal solid waste is being processed as against the target of 44% for March,2016.
Regarding construction of individual household toilets, Gujarat is way ahead of others having built 2,64,331 followed by Madhya Pradesh with 99,151. These two states together account for 94% of the total toilets built till the end of June, 2015. These two States are followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra.
Interestingly, in the month of May this year, the Chhattisgarh Government had directed officials that under Clean India Campaign (Rural), it is mandatory for Government officials and employees posted in rural areas to build toilets in their homes and use the same.
Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand had issued the circular in this context to Chairman, Revenue Board, Bilaspur, Departmental Heads, Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors and CEOs of Jila Panchayats.
The Chief Secretary had stated in the circular that as per the annual action-plan for year 2015-16 under Clean India Mission (Rural), Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, has suggested to ensure that all government, semi-government employees and the ones receiving honorarium for their service in government and local bodies, posted in rural areas, should have toilets in their homes.
It is noteworthy that there are several officials and employees of various departments, teachers, shikshakarmis, constables, Aanganbadi workers, assistants, health workers, kotwar, Employment Exchange Assistant, Panchayat Secretary, literacy Motivator, Patwari, Agriculture Department officials etc posted in rural areas.
In case, any of these employees do not have toilets in their houses, they should ensure construction of one within the next three months.
It was further stated in the circular that to ensure compliance to aforementioned instructions, regular employees should be made to sign affidavit that they have toilets in their houses and they are using it.
Contract period of the contractual employees should be extended only when they ensure construction of toilets in their houses and submit affidavit regarding the same. In case of daily wagers and employees on honorarium, their service period will be extended only when they go for construction and use of toilets in their homes.
Under various Government offices and Panchayati Raj institutions, a large number of employees (regular, contractual, daily wages and honorarium etc) are residing and working in rural areas. As these government employees live amid general public in villages, hence, they can play important role in effectively promoting use of toilets.