Community cadres to be roped in for Swachh Bharat Mission

In keeping with the recently released guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), the Puducherry government will be enlisting the support of ‘community cadres’ to ensure a successful implementation of the scheme in the Union Territory.

The previously existing Puducherry Chief Minister’s Sanitation Scheme for Grant of Financial Assistance to below the poverty line families for the construction of sanitary latrines has now been incorporated into the Mission and an incentive of Rs. 20,000 per household will be given for the construction , said P. Parthiban, project director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and Directorate of Rural Development.

“We have identified 37,000 rural households in 98 panchayats in Puducherry and Karaikal. In the Union Territory, the Project Implementation Agency will undertake the mission which aims at achieving the open defecation free (ODF) status by 2019. We hope to include 8,000 households per year in a panchayat-based approach, with the immediate target being 3,000 households in 10 panchayats for the next two months,” he said. The Local Administration Department is implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission in the urban areas of the Union Territory, including the whole of Mahe and Yanam.

Kusum Gaur, who had worked with the NGO Humana in the construction of EcoSan toilets in the Puducherry region spoke of the importance of creating awareness of toilet use, without which the mission would fall short. The Mission guidelines specify ‘monitoring’ being an important component , and mentions ‘Swachhata Doots,’ foot soldiers who will work towards proper implementation. In the Union Territory, the DRDA plans to rope in NGOs for capacity building and sensitisation of users as it embarks on the mission.

“Community cadres, who are villagers, will be trained to motivate others to use the toilets, and will be rewarded based on their performance,” said Mr. Parthiban. Also, the beneficiary can choose the option best suited for the household as long as the toilet has a septic tank and a soak pit, he said, adding that eco toilets would be encouraged.

While the Total Sanitation Campaign and later the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan did not have much takers in the Union Territory, Mr. Parthiban said the people-based approach in the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is expected to get a better response.