13th January 2021

 

Topic: Health & Environment

 

What is the news?

• The subdivision, town of Abohar, which had reached low rankings in national surveys for four years, was given no Open defecation (ODF)-plus status.

 

Which program is it?

Swachh Bharat Mission

• The first phase of the Swachh Bharat mission was aimed at having toilets in every house.

• In the second phase, the ODF-plus status was introduced for toilets fitted with all equipment. Abohar’s community toilets met all the conditions for eligibility for ODF-plus status.

 

About Swachh Bharat Abhiyan:

 

“A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019,” said PM as he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi.

• On 2 October 2014, the Swachh Bharat mission was launched across the nation.

• The campaign is designed to achieve the vision of a “clean India” by October 2, 2019.

• Initiated by the Government of India, the mission sought to achieve “Open efecation Free” (ODF) India by October 2, 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.

• The objectives of the first phase of the mission also included eradication of manual scavenging, generating awareness and bringing about a behavior change regarding sanitation practices, and augmentation of capacity at the local level.

• Phase 1 of the assignment was completed in October 2019. Phase 2 will be implemented over the period 2020-2021 to 2024-2025.

 

Now, Phase 2:

• Phase II will provide efficient management of solid and liquid waste (SLWM) in every gram  panchayat in the country.

• The SLWM component of “ODF Plus” will be monitored based on output-outcome indicators for four key areas: management of plastic wastes, bio-degradable solid wastes (including animal wastes), greywater and faecal sludge.

• SBM-II will continue to create jobs and boost the rural economy with the construction of toilets for households and communities. As well as SLWM infrastructure such as compost pits, soaking pits, waste stabilization ponds and material recovery facilities.

Funds are shared:

• SBM(G) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with fund sharing pattern between Centre and States being 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu and Kashmir; 100% from Centre for remaining Union Territories (UTs), and 60:40 for other States. Solid Waste Management: Upto Rs. 60 per capita.

 

What is a centrally sponsored scheme?

• Centrally Sponsored Schemes are schemes that are implemented by state governments of India, but are largely funded by the Central Government with a defined State Government share.

 

Important fact:

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan divided into two sub-missions, as the very first one is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban), which lies under ‘Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’, and the second is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin) under ‘Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation’.

 

Important:

• The National Dissemination and Consultation Workshop on SBM (G) Phase-II, issued a survey report on the impact of the mission on women’s convenience, security and self-esteem in rural India.

• The ODF Plus programme will converge with MGNREGA, in particular for grey water management, and will complete the new Jal Jeevan mission.

 

What does this survey say?

• According to the report, 93% of women feel more secure against abuse by not going out to defecate. 91 per cent of women save up to an hour of their day walking to defecation sites. And 88% of women are proud to own a toilet.

• Similarly, 93% of women felt they did not need to stop eating to control their desire to defecate. 81% of women said they no longer had to worry about their private life by changing menstrual hygiene materials. 93% of women no longer fear contracting infections by not going out in the open to defecate.

• The survey, done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF during February, covered, 6,993 women living in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

 

What district in Punjab is Abohar in?

• Fazilka district

(Source: The Tribune)

(Source: The Hindu)