India CSR News Network
NEW DELHI: The Government of India has launched ‘Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)’ on 2nd October, 2014 with the following objectives:
(i) Eliminate open defecation,
(ii) Conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets,
(iii) Eradication of manual scavenging,
(iv) 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of Municipal Solid Waste,
(v) To bring about a behavioral change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices,
(vi) Generate awareness among the citizens about sanitation and its linkages with public health.
(vii) Strengthening of urban local bodies to design, execute and operate systems,
(viii) To create enabling environment for private sector participation in Capital Expenditure and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costs.
The Mission has following components:
(i) Construction of Household Toilets,
(ii) Community and Public Toilets,
(iii) Solid Waste Management,
(iv) Information, Education & Communication (IEC) and Public Awareness,
(v) Capacity Building and Administrative & Office Expenses (A&OE).
The total cost estimate for the Mission is Rs. 62,009 crore, out of which the Central Government’s contribution amounts to Rs.14,623 crore. The funding pattern between the Central Government and the State Government/ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is 75%:25%(90% : 10% for North Eastern and special category states). The gap in financing of the aforesaid components could be met by the beneficiary contribution, private funding, funds with private companies under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Swachh Bharat Kosh of the Ministry of Finance. Various awareness campaigns have already been initiated at all levels to create awareness and people’s participation in the Mission. State Government/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will undertake infrastructure work as per mission guidelines. The guidelines are being finalized. No funds have been released so far, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) also play a strategic role in creating awareness and imparting hygiene education among the local population. Initiatives under Information, Education and Communication (IEC) which have been taken up to improve rural participation in the SBM (Gramin) include enhancing the budget for IEC activities, implementation of Sanitation and Hygiene Advocacy and Communication Strategy Framework (2012-17), which provides a framework to States to develop State-specific Action Plans for rolling out of advocacy and communication activities related to the Programme; involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Village Level Motivators (Swachhata Doots/Sanitation Managers), field functionaries like Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers, School Teachers, and Bharat Nirman Volunteers to carry out field level activities. SBM (G) also has a provision for ‘Social Audit’ for continuous and comprehensive public vigilance of the programme.
This information was given by the Minister of Urban Development M.Venkaiah Naidu in a written reply to Pravesh Hashmi in the Rajya Sabha today.
