In a bid to achieve the coveted tag of ‘Swachchh Jharkhand’ under the flagship initiative of ‘Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan 2018’, Chief Minister Raghubar Das has set the target to make all the urban areas open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, 2017.
“All the urban pockets will be ODF by October 2, 2017 as per the set national target of achieving cent percent cleanliness by 2018,” added the CM while inaugurating the two days workshop on Swacch Bharat Mission organised under the aegis of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Friday.
The State Government will provide additional amount of Rs 5000 for constructing special toilets for the differently-abled persons, said the CM.
“The concept of achieving cleanliness all around must be taken as a mission. Besides the State government, it is also the responsibility of public to take up the initiative ahead and help the government in this endeavor,” said Das.
Emphasising on various advantages of constructing proper urinals and toilets, the CM further added, “Proper facilities of toilets help in controlling several diseases. It is directly associated with health and it also helps in curbing malnutrition among the children. Defecating or urinating in open results in several ailments,” Das said.
The toilets constructed by the NGOs and Public sector undertakings (PSUs) will be surveyed by the members and workers of Panchayat Secretariats.
Giving instructions to the nodal officials, the CM said that all the partially constructed toilets must get constructed completely in a stipulated timeframe. At present, across the State only 54 per cent toilets have been constructed, 46 per cent construction work is yet to done at different localities to achieve the set target in a short span.
Notably, 25 blocks, 711 gram panchayats, 4073 revenue villages have been made ODF in Jharkhand. According to reports, during 2016-17 financial year, as many as 8.20 lakh toilets have been constructed across the State. “For achieving the target in 2018 of constructing toilets at different levels, it is mandatory to provide money to ‘Sakhimandal’ through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and must speedup the task of constructing toilets under the supervision of concerned officials,” Das added.
During the programme, the CM felicitated Ramgarh DC for achieving the coveted tag of first ODF district in Jharkhand. Ramgarh District achieved this target a few months back. Similarly, DCs of lohardaga, Giridih, Seraikela and Hazaribagh districts were also felicitated for doing commendable work under the Swaach Bharat Mission programme at their respective districts.
The CM said that the government will construct shed in towns for the daily wage workers who come from the villages in search of work. “There will be facility of drinking water and toilet also,” he added.
Das said that people can register/lodge their grievances/ complaints with the Information and Public Relation Department from 10 am to 12 noon on a working day. He said that all BDOs and COs must sit in their offices. “Days should be fixed for field work and DCs should ascertain that all BDOs and COs stay in their quarters,” he added.