Bihar to step up Sanitation efforts as part of Swachh Bharat State holds one day workshop of DCs on sanitation The Government of Bihar, as part of a focused strategy to step up Sanitation efforts in the State under the Swachh Bharat Mission, held a workshop on Sanitation for all District Collectors of the State today. The Secretary, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, was present at the workshop to offer guidance from the Government of India. Addressing the workshop, the Secretary expressed his happiness that the State had organized this workshop, and appreciated the fact that leadership in Bihar, at all levels, is putting a lot of emphasis on the Swachh Bharat programme. The Collectors, in particular, are devoting significant time and attention to sanitation, he said, adding that many districts such as Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Khagaria, Viashali, Gopalganj, Jehanabad, West Champaran are now accelerating the Swachh Bharat mission implementation in their districts. While, the Secretary said, that Bihar has a long way to go to become an ODF State, he expressed his appreciation that these districts are taking different initiatives in involving community, strategizing selection of Gram Panchayats (GPs), using festivals as occasions to promote sanitation, convergence with Jeevika (NRLM), conducting night chaupals etc. So far, he added, 59 GPs have declared themselves ODF out of 8404 GPs. Chief Secretary, Bihar, Shri Anjani Kumar, addressing the DCs, added that if the programme is contractor-driven and supply-driven, it will not succeed. Ownership of the toilet by the family / community is important, he added, saying that if people recognise the need, they will put their own money to even construct bathrooms alongside the toilets. He said that the programme is transforming behaviour and habits leading to a much larger social change than simply toilet construction. He stressed that water availability and supply chain will have to be ensured and that Bihar will have to be open to learn from successful experience of other States. He appealed to the DMs to work beyond 'business as usual' and to work with passion on this programme. In his opening remarks on the occasion, State Secretary, Rural Development, Shri Arvind Chaudhary, said that Swachh Bharat Mission known in Bihar as Lohiya Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has been recently brought under the purview of his department, which marks the significance of community engagement in Swachhta. The founding ideal Shauchalaya nirman, har ghar ka sammaan" is one of the seven resolutions of the State Government, he added. Ms M Geetha, Mission Director, Chhattisgarh shared experiences from her State at the workshop as Chattisgarh is a State known for pioneering the community approach to sanitation in the country. The workshop also included deliberations on various issues, such as institutional arrangements, processes, human and social capital requirement, streamlining fund flow, integration with health and other interventions, mechanisms for ODF verification etc. Discussions were also held on Namami Gange implementation and urban sanitation issues.
