Cities and towns of Jharkhand will soon set an example of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. The fact was disclosed after the video-conferencing organised by the Urban Development Ministry for all the States, including Jharkhand, on December 26 regarding the Mission.
All the Urban local Bodies (UlBs) are instructed to upload daily activities on the Ministry’s website. “Jharkhand has 39 UlBs. The maximum is probably in Jamshedpur. To begin with the online upload process, UlBs will have to register on the Ministry’s website by January 5. From January 19 onwards, each UlB has to update ward-wise activities on the website everyday,” Urban Development Department Joint Secretary Vijay Kumar said.
“Some state government officials like us expressed concern on the online process as we lack manpower. The former state government had sanctioned the recruitment for some of these staffs. We are working on fastening the recruitment procedure and hope the remaining employment will soon be approved by the newly formed government,” added Kumar.
According to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan guidelines, UlB like Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has to ensure household toilets besides community and public toilets. For this reason, it has to motivate people. Kumar said a sum of Rs 4000 will be charged by the party willing to build a toilet in coordination with the government.
Also, state government will have to provide land to Sulabh organizations on the basis of lease or any other forms. This norm may probably be an obstacle for government due to the communal dispute for land in Jharkhand. Kumar pointed that the ‘online upload’ will be similar to the ‘update on Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Act’.
RMC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Om Prakash Shah who had attended the videoconferencing along with Urban Development officials said they are waiting for the guidelines letter from the government. “We have enough manpower at our level. As soon as we receive the letter, guidelines will be implemented,” Shah added.
RMC would carry the mission with their ongoing efforts for managing solid wastes, construction of public and community toilets. According to the implementation guidelines approved by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been decentralized. It aims to augment capacities of UlBs besides enabling quicker implementation of the Mission wherein cleanliness is to be ensured by the year 2019.
Out of the total project cost of Rs 62,009 crore, central assistance would be Rs 14,623 while the state or union territories would be required to contribute Rs 4,874 crore.