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UP Govt to launch rural cleanliness drive across UP before, after monsoon
The initiative will cover about 97,942 villages under 51,899 gram panchayats spread across 75 districts of the state.
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The Uttar Pradesh government has issued directives for the launch of a first of its kind pre- and post-monsoon cleanliness drive in villages across the state.
All the district magistrates, chief development officers and district panchayat raj officers (DPROs) in the state have been assigned responsibilities under the Yogi Adityanath government’s ‘Swachh Gram, Swachh Pradesh’ mission as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The initiative will cover about 97,942 villages under 51,899 gram panchayats spread across 75 districts of the state.
Chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar has directed all the district magistrates to ensure cleanliness of villages with emphasis on ponds which cater to the water requirement of rural people and cattle.
In the five-page missive dated May 11, the chief secretary has ordered special cleanliness campaigns after making detailed plans at all the villages of the districts twice – before and after the monsoon.
Not only drains and villages will be cleaned, special emphasis will be laid on cleanliness of hand-pumps, ponds and wells. The officials have also been instructed to ensure repair of damaged drains and construction of new ones wherever required.
The order says as monsoon is expected to reach UP in the first week of July, the exercise of removal of garbage and animal waste, cleaning of choked drains and unhygienic surroundings that endanger people’s health should be undertaken on priority.
A senior officer at panchayati raj department said instructions had been issued for cleanliness of all gram panchayat areas not just before the rain but also during and after monsoon by using money already sanctioned and allocated under various welfare schemes.
During the campaign, the village health, sanitation and nutrition committees (VHSNCs) will hold meetings and undertake special awareness drives to inform rural residents about the importance of keeping toilets clean, preventing waterlogging and disposal of garbage in an eco-friendly manner.
Rallies of schoolchildren, meetings and group discussions will be organised to urge villagers to use mosquito nets and ensure hygiene at their homes and surroundings.
The DMs will plan, direct, supervise and evaluate the campaign at the district level while the CDOs will be responsible for its implementation and coordination between various departments. The DPRO will collect and collate all data and documents related to the initiative.
