Sri Vijaya Puram, Sep 18:
The Directorate of Rural Development (RD), Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has commenced the Swachhata Hi Sewa (SHS) 2024 Campaign yesterday which will continue till Oct.2,2024, in alignment with the nationwide cleanliness initiative. This campaign reaffirms the Administration’s steadfast commitment to fostering a cleaner and healthier environment across the Islands.
This year’s campaign, themed “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata”, builds upon a decade of transformative progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen, initiated in 2014. Over the past ten years, this Union Territory has seen the construction of nearly 20,000 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) and 351 Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs), alongside the establishment of 26 Solid Waste Management (SWM) Clusters, which have greatly contributed to improved sanitation and waste management.
The Secretary of RD and Panchayats, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, formally inaugurated the Swachhata Hi Sewa (SHS) 2024 campaign on Sept.17, 2024 in a programme held in the Auditorium of the Directorate of RD, PRIs, and ULBs in the presence of Shri Shiv Singh Meena, Director (RD/Panchayats), along with other esteemed dignitaries. The District Officials, PRI Members and Block and GP-level Officials also participated virtually in the proceedings.
In his inaugural address, the Secretary (RD/Panchayats) highlighted the paramount importance of source segregation and household-level composting of wet waste, emphasizing these as critical solutions to the solid waste management challenges unique to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He urged all households to actively engage in these efforts to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for future generations.
The Director (RD/Panchayats) provided an overview of the comprehensive State Action Plan, which has been meticulously prepared and distributed to all Districts, Blocks, and Gram Panchayats, outlining the strategic activities to be undertaken during the campaign. He underscored the pivotal role of Gram Panchayats in ensuring the seamless implementation of solid waste management practices, essential for achieving the shared vision of a cleaner and healthier environment. Moreover, he reiterated the Administration’s ambitious goal of attaining ‘Zero Waste Islands,’ a vision that resonates with the national mission of sustainable waste management.
As part of the official launch, the Secretary (RD/Panchayats) administered the Swachhata Pledge to all officers, officials, and dignitaries present at the event, as well as to the PRI members and staff of Blocks and Gram Panchayats, who joined virtually. The pledge reaffirmed the collective commitment of all stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation, fostering a shared responsibility towards a cleaner and greener Union Territory.
The Andaman & Nicobar Administration remains fully dedicated to the objectives of the Swachhata Hi Sewa 2024 Campaign and calls upon all citizens, communities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other key stakeholders to unite in this endeavor, making the Union Territory a beacon of cleanliness and environmental stewardship.
