Rajouri district achieves ODF status under SBM-G

Dist admn appreciates efforts of RDD officials, Community and Swacchta Grahis

RAJOURI, JUNE 29: District Rajouri has achieved 100% physical achievement in Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) with construction of 1.02 Lakh toilets making the district Open Defecation Free(ODF) as all the families identified in the survey have been provided toilet unit. Physical verification has also been completed for declaring the district ODF.

A spokesman of the District Administration said under 'Swachh Bharat Mission Garmin (SBM-G)' a well targeted and convergent campaign involving Rural communities and Government departments has been able to get the rural areas of the district — 376 villages in 19 blocks — declared Open Defecation Free. "Cross-verification of the ODF status in these villages is under progress,” he said.

In this remarkable achievement, Rajouri moved from 23% physical coverage in November 2017 to achievement of 100% coverage in last week of June 2018 with completion of nearly 1 Lakh IHHL units in record time. 75% Geo-tagging and uploading of photographs has also been completed.

In a campaign spearheaded by RDD, the ODF status was achieved after massive mobilization of rural communities and institutions like Aanganwadi Workers and Helpers, ASHAs, Revenue officials, Cooperative Societies, PRIs, Education and Health institutions.

Through massive awareness on social media platforms, awareness camps at village level and innovative interventions through departments, the campaign for constructing IHHLs turned into a Jan Andolan, across district.

District Administration and all stakeholders endeavoured to complete the physical targets during recent months and extensively widen the impact of social outreach programme for cleanliness and sanitation under the umbrella of Swachh Bharat Mission for a behavioural change of society.

Meanwhile, DDC Dr. Shahid said people of Rajouri, the government officials and representatives of other institutions have contributed towards this milestone. "The convergent participation of different stakeholders has led us to achieve the ODF status," he acknowledged.

He appreciated the concerned departments and their field functionaries who worked in mission mode with great sense of responsibility in making the district Open Defecation Free. The DDC particularly complimented the field officials of RDD, Swachhta Grahis, AWWs, Teachers and other stakeholders for motivating the uncovered households at village level to construct IHHL units.

The District Administration has also initiated a project for providing water supply in more than 200 hamlets to provide drinking water and making the toilets functional. Handpumps, Harvesting Tanks, percolation tanks, piped supply and other measures are being taken to augment SBM.