Govt exploring ways to mobilise funds for Swachh Bharat Kosh

Finance Ministry and the Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) will meet next week to deliberate on ways to mobilise more funds for the Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK).

Established in November 2014 under the Finance Ministry, SBK has been set up to attract CSR funds and contributions from individuals and philanthropists in response to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014 to achieve the objective of 'Clean India' (Swachh Bharat) by 2019.

"Finance Secretary will chair a meeting on July 12 with me, which will also include heads of 40-50 PSUs to explore ways to get more contributions for SBK," Ministry of DWS Secretary Parameswaran Iyer told reporters here.

Total fund mobilised under the SBK as on January 31, 2016 stood at Rs 369.74 crore.

Companies contributed more than Rs 42 crore towards SBK as part of their CSR activities in 2014-15.

Addressing a press conference, Iyer enumerated the contributions made by ministries of mines, corporate affairs and public enterprises towards the Swachh Bharat Pakhwada held during June 16-30.

Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said state-run aluminium maker Nalco will adopt the vicinity of the Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri in Odisha to transform it into a modern pilgrimage site.

Similarly, Hindustan Zinc Ltd will take the responsibility of transforming the vicinity of the Ajmer Sharif dargah in Rajasthan, he added.

"Also we are pursuing mining companies and PSUs to adopt 200 villages and maker them open defecation free by February 28, 2017. We have asked Indian Bureau of Mines to ask mine lease owners to adopt a village in their vicinity for Swachh Bharat Mission," Kumar said.

Corporate Affairs Secretary Tapan Ray his ministry is working towards sensitising corporates on the Swachh Bharat initiative.

"We have reached out to around 11 lakh corporate entities through email on Swachh Bharat. Also, we have engaged 15 lakh professionals as well got online pledges for 20 lakh people for keeping the country clean," he added.

The ministry also reached out to over 58,000 people through social media about the importance of a clean India and the Swachh Bharat Mission, Ray said.

Department of Public Enterprises Secretary Ameising Luikham said his department has reached out to 235 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) and has asked them to carry out the Swachh Bharat drive.