Two area level federations (ALF) of women Self Help Groups in urban Tiruvannamalai and Vellore have bagged the second prize in the ‘Swachhata Excellence Award’ for ALFs for 2017-2018 from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The ALFs have received cash awards of ₹one lakh each for their involvement in various cleanliness and sanitation initiatives.
‘Pournami Nilavu’ Area Level Federation of SHGs in Thenimalai, Tiruvannamalai, and an ALF in Dharapadavedu in Vellore Corporation limit received the awards during a function held in Delhi on March 23. The federations were functioning through the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.
At the State level, the first prize went to an ALF in Salem, while the second prize went to three ALFs in Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Tiruppur, Jayasudha, project officer of Mahalir Thittam, Tiruvannamalai, said.
Selvarani, community organiser, National Urban Livelihood Mission, said the ‘Pournami Nilavu’ ALF comprised 37 SHGs. Each SHG had 12 to 20 members. “The members have actively participated in many cleanliness awareness initiatives. They undertook a survey of households without toilets in Thenimalai, collected applications from residents and submitted it to the Tiruvannamalai Municipality. This has paved way for the construction of toilets in more than 150 households, while another 80 applicants are awaiting approval,” she said. One of the SHGs were maintaining public toilets near ‘Thamarai Kulam,’ she said, adding, “The ALF members have taken part in many ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ programmes, ‘Thooimaiye Sevai’ initiative during Karthigai Deepam, rallies to create awareness on avoiding use of plastics and rallies to spread dengue awareness.”
A press release said that the ALF members have held meetings with the public on “Swachh Bharat Mission,” solid waste management and created awareness among students. They were involved in door-to-door mosquito-control activities for prevention of dengue. They were involved in maintaining cleanliness along the ‘Girivalam’ path.
According to a press release issued by Mahalir Thittam, Vellore, ALFs were formed under the National Urban Livelihood Mission. Proposals were invited for the ‘Swachhata Excellence Award’ from ALFs involved in maintaining cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission. After this ALF was recommended for the award, a special team from the Centre conducted an inspection. Collectors K.S. Kandasamy (Tiruvannamalai) and S.A. Raman (Vellore) congratulated the team members. A. R. Sivaraman, project director of TN Corporation for Development of Women, Vellore, was present.
