Port Blair, Dec 01: The Community Development Block Prothrapur in collaboration with the Directorate of RD, PRIs & ULB, A&N Administration celebrated the World Toilet Day Campaign 2024 under the esteemed guidance and support of Shri. Arjun Sharma, Secretary (RD/Panchayat).
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI has launched the campaign “Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman” which started on the occasion of World Toilet Day i.e.November 19, 2024 and will run until Human Rights Day, i.e. December 10, 2024.The campaign highlights the strong connection between sanitation and human rights, as access to toilets is directly linked to the fundamental rights to dignity, health, and safe environments. The occasion of Human Rights Day is an added advantage for ensuring access to toilets which is a basic human right and would aligned with global goals like Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-6.
The program for celebration of ‘World Toilet Day’ Campaign 2024 was organized by the Community Development Block Prothrapur in the Conference Hall of the Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur. Shri. Vasant Prasad Dabholkar, IAS (P) as the chief guest urged the Gram Panchayats of A&N Islands to always remain focused towards maintenance of clean and green Islands as well as ensure welfare of the sanitary workers who are playing crucial role for maintaining cleanliness in the rural areas of this UT.
During the celebration of World Toilet Day Campaign as per the direction of the Secretary (RD/Panchayat), launch of a movement for enrolment of Sanitary workers under Social Security schemes like PMJJBY and PMSBY was done by the chief guest. The State Bank of India being the Lead Bank of A&N Islands has provided all necessary support for extension of Social Security schemes to the sanitary workers. The Registration Certificates of aforesaid schemes were distributed by the chief guest to 10 Sanitary workers of the Gram Panchayat Sippighat, Calicut and Beodnabad on pilot bases. This movement will be taken ahead to the other Gram Panchayats of this UT.
Subsequently, the chief guest distributed the Sanction Orders for construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) to the beneficiaries of Gram Panchayat Sippighat, Calicut and Beodnabad out of total sanctioned 81 IHHLs for beneficiaries of all Gram Panchayats of Prothrapur Block. The Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur felicitated the beneficiaries of IHHL who have been nicely maintaining their sanction toilet and working as factor of motivation to other for usage of toilet. The Pradhan Gram Panchayat Calicut was felicitated for maintenance of maximum number of clean and hygienic CSCs. The Up-Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur distributed raincoats to the Sanitary workers and the Gram Pancahayt Beodnabad was provided with two Fire-extinguishers for the Solid Waste Management Cluster. Smti. Champa Das, Pramukh Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur and Shri. Sathya Narayan, Up-Pramukh Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur were the guests of honour. Smti. Joythi, Pradhan Sippighat and Shri. T Yaghabaram, Pradhan Calicut were also present in the program.
At the outset, Smt. Gurjeet Kaur, Block Development Officer welcomed all dignitaries and participants in the program and brief about the objective of celebration of World Toilet Day Campaign. It was informed to all that the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has already sanctioned and made 18633 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) & 358 Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) and attained Open Defecation Free+ (ODF+) status. Now, the UT is focused to sustain the ODF+ status with effective management of Solid and Liquid waste. All the Gram Panchayats are effectively working towards management of waste generated in the rural areas of this UT and in this action the sanitary workers engaged by the Panchayats are playing a vital role.
At the end, Smti. Champa Das, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur express gratitude to the Department of RD/Panchayat for piloting the enrolment of sanitary workers under Social Security schemes from the Gram Panchayts under Panchayat Samiti Prothrapur.
