Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 13: Prime Minister Narender Modi today reviewed the progress of the flagship Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) – Gramin programme via video conference with the Chief Secretaries of various States.
J&K Chief Secretary, B B Vyas also participated in the video conference and informed the Prime Minister about the efforts taken so far to achieve targets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (G).
On the occasion, a presentation was made by the Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parameswaran Iyer regarding status of progress under the programme in the four states including J&K, UP, Odisha and Bihar.
Prime Minister interacted with the Chief Secretaries and enquired about the steps taken so far and the strategy adopted by their Governments to declare all the districts in their respective states ODF.
Chief Secretary B B Vyas presented the over view of the programme in the State and informed that J&K has achieved 55% coverage of Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL) and it will be increased upto 60% by April 10, 2018. The State has to cover 6.83 lakh toilets for which a detailed month wise road map has been prepared and targets have been fixed for each district.
He assured the Prime Minister that the fixed targets will be achieved in prescribed time. He apprised the PM that the districts namely Leh, Kargil and Srinagar have attained the Open Defecation Free status on Oct 30, 2017 and Shopian district of Kashmir division has attained the Open Defecation Free status today on March 13, 2018.
Addressing the Chief Secretary J&K, Prime Minister asked for covering Jammu province in mission mode before durbar move to Srinagar, summer capital of the State.
PM further said that the state of J&K is a famous for its tourist destinations and sanitation should be the first priority of the State Government. He said that people of J&K are much aware so they can be involved positively in bringing change on the ground.
Prime Minister Narender Modi also asked Chief Secretary to make efforts on making all districts en-route to Shri Amarnath Yatra ODF.
Chief Secretary informed the PM that Srinagar district has already been declared ODF and efforts are underway in other districts. He also requested for funding to construct more community toilets at important religious places in the state.
PM said that complete sanitation should be the agenda of the Government of J&K state, its employees and people. He also asked all the Chief Secretaries to spread awareness among people with the help of Nataks and to involve school students for the purpose.
Chief Secretary B B Vyas assured the Prime Minister that all the districts of the State would be declared ODF by December 2018 and all necessary efforts would be taken to achieve the desired results under the programme.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Narender Modi also interacted with the various District Collectors of these 4 states including Deputy Commissioner Baramulla.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla presented the scenario of district with regard to the scheme SBM-G and appraised that the district has achieved 53% coverage of Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL) and the remaining target will be achieved by Oct 30, 2018 as per the month wise road Map adopted by the district. Sopore Block which is hub of horticulture has attained Open Defecation Free status and more blocks are at saturation level, he informed.
Expressing hope to achieve positive results, the Prime Minister asked all to work in mission mode especially at district level and also to ensure daily monitoring of the progress under the SBM programme.
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