Jharkhand has stood first in the Swachh Sundar Shauchalaya (SSS) contest held across the country. Not only Jharkhand, but in district-wise category, Giridih has secured first position. In district-wise competition, five districts from State are in top positions. East Singhbhum has secured fourth position, Sariakela has secured sixth position, Koderma seventh and Lohardaga district in ninth position.
The Swachh Sundar Shauchalaya contest was organized as an opportunity to paint toilets and give them a facelift across rural India in order to re intensify the Swachh Bharat Andolan. The aim is to mobilize rural households to beautify their toilets.
The Swachh Sundar Shauchalaya award was given on Monday at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, where the winners of the campaign were awarded by Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
On behalf of Jharkhand, State Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Aradhana Patnaik received the award.
As part of Swachh Sundar Shauchalaya contest the toilets were painted with colours, culturally significant motifs and messages to promote safe sanitation describing the scene—the exercise creating a sense of pride as they make the toilets aesthetically pleasing. Construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of pet issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridding on which BJP gain power for second consecutive term. The PM Modi has also coined toilets as ‘Ijjat Ghar’.
The SSS competition organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India was held from January 1 to 31, 2019, across rural India garnering over 1.34 crore participation.