It is said that old habits die hard. This adage held true of the open defecation system in the rural areas of the state up until the State Government took upon itself the enormous task of doing away with this age old practice prevalent in the rural sphere. The State Government has started various programmes, schemes and sanitation awareness campaign in this direction.

            Keeping in view  the health perils that open defecation entail,  the people of the State are being sensitized by undertaking awareness campaigns in the state.  Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) which was launched in the State in the year 2000 from district Sirmour, has now reached every nook and corner of the State. Despite some initial hesitancy in changing behavioural outlook, the campaign to stamp out open defecation in the State is now eliciting encouraging response from the rural masses and yielding remarkable outcome. There has been a tremendous increase in rural sanitation coverage from less than 30% in 2001 to over 80% in 2009. The State is already surging ahead on the path of becoming completely free of open defecation by the end of 2010.

            To encourage the sanitation cover in rural areas, gram panchayats, which achieve 100 percent sanitation cover in terms of-100 percent sanitation coverage of individual household toilets, 100 percent school and anganwadi sanitation coverage, free from open defecation and clean environment maintenance are being provided fiscal incentives. Till January, 2010, 2097 Gram Panchayats had emerged as Nirmal Gram Panchayats in the State. The Total Sanitation Campaign is directed to bring about awareness amongst the common masses for development of hygienic habits and behavioural change through information, education and communication modes, thus motivating them for scientific and safe disposal of the waste in their respective geographical areas.

            State had made steady progress during last few years in sanitation as 22 Gram Panchayats had got Nirmal Gram Puraskar in 2006-07 and this figure rose to 245 in the year 2007-08 while it reached to 253 in the year 2008-09. Gram Panchayats receiving these incentives can use it for maintaining sanitation facilities in their respective areas. Blocks and districts may use the funds to set up monitoring mechanisms for sanitation.  Every award winning Gram Panchayat is entitled to put up an NGP Board/ Logo declaring the Open Defecation Free status. However, the Gram Panchayat is derecognized, if it fails to maintain the ODF status found on random checks.

            Recently, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister awarded 253 Gram Panchayats of the State which included 125 Gram Panchayats of district Mandi, 29 of district Kangra, 23 of district Shimla, 25of district Hamirpur, 15 of district Solan, 13 of district Sirmaur, 7 of district Chamba, 8 of district Bilaspur, 3 each of district Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti, one each of district Una and Kinnaur districts. These Gram Panchayats were awarded cash prizes ranging between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh, citation and mementos at a State-level Nirmal Gram Puruskar-2009 function organised under Total Sanitation Campaign by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. 

              Apart from honouring the Nirmal Gram Panchayats, the winning Gram Panchayats are being encouraged to lend a helping hand in motivating their neighbouring Gram Panchayats to exonerate itself of the open defecation manner.  A sum of Rs 3.65 crore would be disbursed among the Nirmal Gram Panchayats so that that the remaining panchayats are also inspired to follow in their footsteps. Blocks and districts may use the funds for providing remuneration to such Pradhans who act as facilitator to motivate other Gram panchayats to achieve full sanitation coverage.

            To ensure active participation of public representatives in the campaign, the State Government has decided to honour such people who contribute in the implementation of Total Sanitation Programme in their respective areas at State-level function.

            The government has formulated a plan to steer clear of the open defecation and to achieve this; each house is being motivated to construct their own toilets besides educational institutions and community centres. The State Government has also started the ’Maharishi Valmiki Sampuran Swachhata Puraskar’ in order to achieve the goal of safe and hygienic sanitation facilities for all and to motivate the state panchayati raj institutions in boosting up the Total Sanitation Campaign. To gear up the sanitation programme in the hill state, School Sanitation Reward Scheme, which awards the best educational institutions for ODF achievement and Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojna have been started in the State.

 

ssued by: 

Director,

Information & Public Relations,

Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-2