Govt sets up clean India fund to receive contributions for building toilets

The government on Tuesday set up a Swachh Bharat fund to collect contributions from individuals and organisations for its clean India programme. A statement issued by the finance ministry said: “It may also be able to bring out innovative/unique projects and girl toilets will be the priority area to start with.”

Construction activity for water supply to the constructed toilets, training and skill development to facilitate the maintenance of the toilets and to ensure its inter-linkages with education on hygiene, and liquid waste management will be financed from the fund.

The ministry said philanthropists have expressed interest in contributing to the efforts to achieve the objective of Clean India by 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will acknowledge contributions of over Rs 1 crore made by individuals and of over Rs 20 crore by corporates.

The fund, called Swachh Bharat Kosh, would be administered by a governing council chaired by the secretary, department of expenditure. Other permanent members will be secretaries of planning, drinking water and sanitation, urban development, housing and urban poverty alleviation, rural development, panchayati raj and school education and literacy.

The line ministries will propose projects to the governing council. The states can also apply for the funds through the respective line ministries. The allocation from the fund will be used to supplement departmental resources for these activities.

The progress of activities undertaken from the fund will be reviewed by the finance minister on a quarterly basis and by the Prime Minister from time to time. The ministries would ensure that the projects/activities undertaken from the fund are not duplicated.

To ensure financial accountability, internal audit shall be carried out by the Chief Controller of Accounts, once every quarter. In addition, statutory audit will be carried out annually by an independent auditor from a board of auditors appointed by the CAG.