Lok Bhavan sets roadmap for a Statewide Swachhata Movement in Assam
Guwahati,Rongili Barta: With the vision of taking Swachhta beyond scheme implementation and transforming it into a sustained State-wide movement, Lok Bhavan, Assam, reviewed the way forward for strengthening the Swachh Bharat Mission across the State. A meeting in this regard was held today under the chairmanship of Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram.
The discussions centred on developing a comprehensive action plan to advance Swachhta in both rural and urban areas, with emphasis on behavioural change, effective waste management, sanitation, wastewater treatment, grassroots accountability and greater citizen participation.
The meeting also emphasised the need to focus on the functionality and sustainability of existing infrastructure, strengthen source segregation and grey-water management, improve sewage and wastewater treatment, and promote climate-resilient sanitation practices. Greater use of technology, including GIS-based monitoring, and stronger linkages for waste processing and circular-economy initiatives were also discussed.
It was further proposed to integrate Swachh Bharat activities into the Governor’s district visits and establish mechanisms for recognising excellence in Swachhata through annual awards, ODF Plus certification and grassroots-level recognition. The active involvement of NGOs, SHGs, youth and citizens was underlined as essential to creating a culture of cleanliness and community ownership.
The overarching vision is to see Assam emerge as the cleanest State, with every city, town and village clean, sustainable, resilient and committed to Swachhata.
Commissioner and Secretary conveyed the desire of the Governor to launch awards for better performing districts under the Swachh Bharat Mission particularly under the Urban and rural area category and Swachhata Bharat Mission Urban was asked to prepare the framework of an award scheme for identification and felicitation for better performing Urban Local Bodies at the state level. In addition the best performing ward in individual Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Municipal Boards and Town Committees) must be instituted for which the award will be presented at the district level.
Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin was requested to prepare a framework for awarding districts for achievement in the Swachh Bharat Gramin category. In this regard Panchayat Raj Institutions under each district would be a unit of assessment. These are annual awards. In order to motivate the grass root level it was also decided to institute awards to best performing wards at the GP level and to declare the cleanest street in the village on the basis of performance.
The Governor will provide a rolling trophy/shield for the state level awardees of both Swachh Bharat Gramin and Swachhata Bharat Urban.
Joint Secretary Governor’s Secretariat Arindam Barua, higher officials from TERI and Guwahati Municipal Corporation along with a host of other dignitaries attended the meeting.