Port Blair, Nov 20: Government of India is committed to ensure that no person needs to enter a sewer or septic tank, unless absolutely unavoidable in the interest of greater public hygiene. As part of it the Govt. of India is conducting National Competition titled “Safaimitra Surakaksha Challenge’ (City Ghallenge on Manhole to Machinehole Transformation) to encourage more cities and towns to adopt Mechanized Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks as a practice, and act as a Lighthouse for other smaller cities.
Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State, MoHUA, GoI., with the Urban Local Bodies of States & Union Territories launched the ‘Safaimitra Surakaksha Challenge’ at a webinar in New Delhi on the occasion of World Toilet Day on 19th Nov., 2020. This “Safaimitra Surakaksha Challenge’ is being organized to change over practices of Manhole to Machinehole Transformation and will encourage mechanized cleaning of faecal sludge & will defeat the manhole scavenging.
The Secretary, Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) Smti. Anjali Sehrawat, IAS, participated in the launching ceremony of Safaimitra Surakaksha Challenge through webinar in the mini conference Hall of Secretariat. During the webinar the Secretary, PBMC also accepted the Safaimitra Surakaksha Challenge.
The National Challenge, which is open to all registered Municipal Corporations, Smart Cities, and State / UT Capitals, will have the following Award Categories for Best cities:
Sub-Categories (population) 1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize
>10 Lakhs Rs. 12 Crores Rs. 06 Crores Rs. 03 Crores
3-10 Lakhs Rs. 10 Crores Rs. 05 Crores Rs. 2.5 Crores
Upto 3 Lakhs Rs. 08 Crores Rs. 4 Crores Rs. 2 Crores
Further, two top performing States / UTs will be recognized through Citation + Shield, and cities adjudged 4th and 5th in each population category will also be recognized and the results will be declared on 15th August 2021.
PBMC is committed to achieve the legally binding safeguards especially for manual scavenging and meet up the requirements of the challenge. General public is appealed to support the efforts of PBMC wholeheartedly.
