A Statewide campaign to cover 14.4 lakhs households under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in the financial year 2016-17 will begin on Wednesday by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation in collaboration with UNICEF Jharkhand. The nine-day campaign will begin on August 10 and will be completed on August 18 to cover 2234 panchayats in 124 blocks across the state.
The campaign will encourage communities in rural areas to take up self-construction of household toilets. A State Resource Team (SRT) has been established for monitoring the district-wise activities and collating information based on extensive field visits on a day to day basis. UNICEF is providing technical support in the training of the State Resource Team (SRT); developing messages for the campaign and its documentation
“This drive will give a boost in targeted panchayats to correct baseline, quality construction of toilets and promote self-construction. We expect to get around 3-4 lakhs applications during the drive for self-construction,“ said Principal Secretary Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, AP Singh.
Dr. Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of UNICEF Jharkhand said, “Self-construction of toilets will give a momentum to SBM in rural areas. It is important from the community ownership and quality perspective. UNICEF is extending support to the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation in tribal dominated districts of lohardaga, Simdega & Gumla to ensure equity in sanitation.”