#toilets built under swachh bharat

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Over 4,300 urban local bodies free of open defecation: Govt

Over 4,300 urban local bodies free of open defecation: Govt

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By: Express News Service | New Delhi | October 2, 2020 2:47:32 am

“A total of 4,327 urban local bodies have been declared open defecation-free (ODF) so far,” the ministry said in a statement. (File)

Over 1,300 cities and over 4,300 urban local bodies in the country have so far achieved open-defecation-free tags, the Ministry of Housing…

[dasabhi-blog]

Swachh Bharat - A Step towards realising Mahatma's Dream

Hyderabad: India remembers Gandhi Ji as a part of the celebrations marking his 150th Birth year. While Gandhi Ji's mark on India’s history, as a crusader of India’s independence is indelible, his thoughts and ideology regarding sanitation and cleanliness hold good even today and offer deeper insights into the problem that India has been facing since decades. This article attempts to throw light upon the teachings and experiences of Gandhiji regarding cleanliness and sanitation in India and explains how it inspired today’s Swacch Bharat Mission that achieved commendable progress since its inception.

Swachh Bharat: A Mission of Cleanliness

As a result of this policy indifference over a period of time, India stood low on cleanliness standards. According to the 2011 census data, out of 246.7 million households in India, 53.1 percent of them had no facility of the washroom on their house premises. While a very minuscule number of them used public latrines, a large majority of this category defecate in open, which is an astonishing figure for a fast-growing economy like India. The National Democratic Alliance that came to power in 2014 under the Prime Ministership of Narendra Modi identified the magnitude of the problem and decided to address it on war footing mode. Commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Mr.Modi launched one of the flagship programmes of NDA Government and in fact the most ambitious cleanliness drive in India’s history in the name of ‘Swach Bharath Mission’ on 2nd October 2014. The broader aim of this campaign is to provide sanitation facilities to every family, including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems, village cleanliness, and safe and adequate drinking water supply. The mission started with a laudable objective of ending open defecation completely by the year 2019, which would mark the 150th anniversary of the Mahatma and is making strides in achieving a cleaner India than before.

Nearly 10 crore households’ toilets were built in the country, leading to a significant improvement in sanitation coverage and reduction in open defecation, since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014. When Prime Minister Modi visited the United States in the last week of September 2019, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honoured the success of Swachh Bharat that has transformed lives around the country. The statement by the foundation, saying that "The Swachh Bharat mission can serve as a model for other countries around the world that urgently need to improve access to sanitation for the world's poorest” depicts its progress and importance.

Challenges ahead for Swachh​​​​​​​ Bharat: 

Despite the significant achievements, this mission had achieved, challenges persist to realize Gandhi Ji's dreams. The major challenge is manual scavenging. To address this issue, the Government needs to focus its energy and resources on building toilets in such a design that will not necessitate manual scavenging and ensuring their maintenance. The second challenge is to address the concerns about the productivity of funds utilized in the campaign process. It is pertinent that necessary supervisory mechanisms are put in place to ensure that the funds allocated are put to productive use and procedural delays are avoided to serve the larger purpose of making India cleaner than before. The third challenge is to overcome social taboos to use toilets. Perseverance in efforts and ingenuity in the ways one approaches the people would bring in major changes on this front, by ensuring public participation through awareness. Hence by filling the loopholes and with the commitment of the Government and the cooperation of civil society, it is possible to see a clean India that Mahatma Gandhi had dreamt of.

[malikkavita]

The Jal Jeevan and Swachh Bharat Missions Are Combining To Improve People’s Well-Being

Swachh Bharat Mission:

The aim of the Swachh Bharat Mission, or Clean Mission India, is to eradicate open defecation and improve sanitation in India. The government constructed over 10 crore toilets that were of twin-pit toilet design with in-situ faecal sludge treatment.

The mission of Jal Jeevan: 

It was first introduced in 2010 and over 9.6 crore rural homes are intended to receive tap water connections because of it. By 2024, it is the goal of the Jal Jeevan Mission to give every home in rural India with access to safe and sufficient drinking water via individual household tap connections.

The programme will also incorporate source sustainability measures as requirements, such as water saving, rainwater collection, and recharge and reuse through grey water management. A crucial element of the Jal Jeevan Mission would be substantial information, education, and communication. It will focus on a community-based approach to water. A crucial element of the Jal Jeevan Mission would be substantial information, education, and communication. It will focus on a community-based approach to water. JJM seeks to establish a jan andolan for water, elevating it to a universal priority.

Convergence as a Concept

In his first budget speech, Arun Jaitley (Ex-Finance Minister) listed convergence as one of the key governing themes. He appreciated the power of togetherness and gave the example of multiple sticks bundled together being way stronger than a single stick. Similarly, the convergence of ideas, projects, and strategies is where the unity rests.

Phase 2 of the Swachh Bharat Mission: Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission convergence

The difficulty of regulating grey water discharge was one that both the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Swachh Bharat Mission faced. About 70% of all home water turns into grey water, which, if dumped untreated, can have detrimental consequences. Therefore, in order to attain comprehensive sanitation, where the treatment of grey water becomes a crucial component, the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Swachh Bharat Mission under SBA have been combined. Solid and liquid waste management procedures have been developed in the regions of focus under SBA Phase 2. The government will continue to strive for excellence throughout the second phase by tying up loose ends, filling in delivery gaps, and extending benefits to the very last person in line.

Agenda of Swachh Bharat Mission’s Phase 2

All toilets that weren’t already linked to the main sewer lines during SBA-1 will be done. By doing so, untreated faecal sludge, which at the moment does not enter sewer pipes, will be resolved. It will address the horrifying environmental issue caused by plastic trash in India.

The dignity of women is at the heart of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA).

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF survey found that 80% of respondents said that safety and security were the key factors in their desire to build toilets.

JJM intends to free women from the drudgery of travelling great distances to gather water. Approximately 93% of women expressed they felt comfortable and that using public restrooms had restored their sense of dignity.

In the village and water sanitation committees, the Jal Jeevan Mission reserves 50% of the seats for women. They have given the responsibility to at least five women for monitoring water quality, etc., in each hamlet. At least

Successes of SBA-2

As of now, 3.5 lakh villages are devoid of plastic trash and nearly 4.23 lakh have little to no litter. They have built there about 178 faecal sludge treatment facilities and about 90,000 km of drains.

Significance of these programmes

According to a 2006 research, poor sanitation cost India 6% of its GDP, or Rs 2.4 trillion, at the time. As a result, SBM not only prevents GDP loss but also offers each household benefits totaling Rs 53,000 annually.

These programmes ought to be seen as a stepping stone to more arduous tasks. It attacks social issues at their core.

[alvydental]

What is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ?

What is Pradhan mantri awas yojana?  

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is an initiative of the Indian government to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022.On June 1st, 2015, the strategy was initially disclosed. The PMAY programme has a 20-year maximum repayment period and a 6.50 percent yearly interest rate. The administration has presented it in this way. To guarantee that individuals have access to affordable housing, the federal government will work with developers of real estate. All of the homes were built with the intention of being completely self-contained, with power and toilets. The electricity will be paid for through the Subhagya Yojana. Under the Ujjwala Yojana, LPG connections would be made available to households. The benefits of the Jan Dhan Yojana Banking will include access to drinking water. The programme has been combined with other benefit programmes in a variety of ways.

The PM Awas Yojana scheme is divided into two subdivisions based on the areas on which they focus: 

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)/ PMAY-G 

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)/ PMAY – U 

(READ MORE ABOUT PMAY IN DETAIL HERE) 

What is Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMAY Rural) Scheme? 

One of the main signature initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMAY Rural) was launched during the 2009–2010 fiscal year. This initiative was started by Rajiv Gandhi, India's then-Prime Minister, and was formerly known as the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). The program's major objective was to provide "Housing for All" by 2022. The PMAY rural scheme aims to promote scheduled caste villages in an integrated manner.

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) programme of the central government seeks to address the housing crisis in rural India while simultaneously advancing the aim of Housing for All. People who are living in kutcha houses with little to no access to necessary amenities and who are unable to afford a home are eligible for PMAY Gramin units. Out of a target of 2.95 crore, 1.65 crore PMAY Gramin houses have already been constructed as of November 29, 2021. The Ministry of Rural Development's (MoRD) goal has already been exceeded by more than half.

RECENT UPDATES ABOUT PMAYG SCHEME: 

PMAY Gramin scheme has been extended till March 2024: 

In order to complete the task of building 2.95 crore homes, the Union Cabinet has extended the duration of the government's signature "Housing for All" programme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY Gramin), from March 2021 to March 2024. Under this continuance of the programme, the 155.75 lakh remaining homes would receive financial assistance to be transformed into pucca houses with the most basic amenities.

The remaining 155.75 lakh houses under the PMAY rural programme will cost a total of?2,17,257 crore to build, with a significant contribution of?1,25,106 crore and a state share of?73,475 crores, for a total of 2.95 crore homes in rural areas.

Features of PMAY Gramin: 

The following are the key features of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana scheme: 

The PMAY Gramin residences are 25 square metres (269.098 sq ft).

The Central and State governments will split the cost of each unit in plain regions 60:40, providing?.1.20 lakh in aid for each unit.

In Himalayan states, states in the northeast, and the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir, the ratio is 90:10, with each unit receiving up to?.1.30 lakh in aid.

The centre is providing all financing for Union Territories, which includes the UT of Ladakh.

Beneficiaries of MGNREGS receive?.90.95 per day of unskilled labour.

Gram Sabhas use socioeconomic and caste census criteria to identify and confirm beneficiaries (SECC).

In collaboration with MGNREGS or other programmes, the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) would provide up to?12,000 in toilet construction assistance.

Electronic payments are made to post office or bank accounts that are connected to Aadhaar.

The factors listed above ensure the following advantages: 

The homeless will be given inexpensive housing under PMAY G.

Senior citizens and persons with special needs will have space on the ground floor.

Utilizing sustainable and ecologically friendly items helps maintain a cleaner environment.

This programme includes rural mason training, ensuring employment opportunities.

Through this programme, low-interest loans are made available to rural residents.

[slinder-man]

India is the biggest democracy in the world, which has taken giant strides in the last few decades. We are now the world’s third-largest economy (in purchasing power parity terms). However, being an Indian you can’t resist ‘chalta hai’ (let it be) common attitude. Moreover, for everything we have ‘jugaad’. But in between this, we can not forget everyday issues, which continue to pose hurdles in the progress of the nation. These social, political and economic issues are meant to be taken into consideration, in order to improve the prevailing condition of our society. Issues like corruption, crime, condition of the road network and so on, need to be looked into immediately. With the proliferation of information and technology, more awareness is spreading among the masses. New organisations are sprouting to find a fruitful solution to these problems. The activists involved are really working hard to eradicate these problems from their very roots.

So, we would like the government to come up with the solution to these problems faced by the common man

What are the current major issues in India?

Corruption

The most widely spread endemic in India is corruption, which must be handled quickly and wisely. There is hardly any office, in both the private and public sector, that is untouched from this disease. There is no telling how much loss the economy has suffered because of this. Though most of us are concerned, when the time comes to act, we, the people of India, should not be found lacking.

Illiteracy

The percentage of illiteracy in India is alarming. Though 74.04% of people were counted as literate in 2011 census, there is a wide disparity between rural and urban areas and male and female population. The condition in villages is worse than in cities. Though a number of primary schools have been set up in rural India, the problem persists. Many people who are counted as literate can barely read or write. Hence, providing education just to children won’t solve the problem of illiteracy, as many adults in India are also untouched by education.

Education System

The education system of India is blamed every now and then for being too theoretical, but not practical and skill-based. Students study to score marks, not to gain knowledge. This so-called modern education system was introduced by the colonial masters to create servants who could serve but not lead, and we still have the same education system. Rabindranath Tagore had written many articles offering suggestions to change the education system of India. But still, success is as elusive as ever.

Basic Sanitation

Sanitation is yet another problem, but one of the biggest, in India. There are about 700 million people who have no access to toilets at home. Slum areas do not have toilets. People are thus forced to defecate in the open, which causes numerous diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dehydration etc. Many rural schools also have no toilets, because of which parents do not send their kids, especially girls, to school. Due attention was drawn towards this problem by Gandhiji but nothing much was done. A growing population is the biggest challenge causing these problems. For example, the sewage system in Delhi was designed to meet the needs of a population of three million people. But Delhi now has more than 14 million of population. This is not just the case of Delhi; every state and region in India is the same.

Though 12 million toilets claim to have been built under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the last five years, as per a UN report, 44% of the population continues to defecate in the open. Sanitation, solid waste management, and drainage continue to pose challenges in India.

However, according to Swachh Bharat Mission website a total of 100 Million toilets were built in India, and all the States, Union Territories, Gram Panchayats, and Districts declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF).

Healthcare System

It is true that the world’s most populous democratic country cannot provide proper healthcare facilities to its entire population. India is becoming a hub for medical tourism but all these facilities are not available to local residents, who happen to be poor. Healthcare is a neglected issue in India, as major attention drawers are agriculture, infrastructure and IT. Lack of resources in rural India is a major concern of the day, leading to most of the problems. 50% of all villagers have no access to healthcare providers; Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 34 per 1000 live births; lack of nutrition caused stunning growth in 50% of all the babies, and 36% people in India have no access to toilets.

Despite the country’s medical tourism bringing in $2.8 billion in 2020 and being the fourth largest medical devices market, the healthcare system for the Indian citizen has been a disappointment. According to a report by NITI Aayog, the country has 1.3 hospitals bed per 1000 population with almost 50% of it concentrated in states like Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra

Poverty

The population of India living below the poverty line declined from 37% in 2004-2005 to 22% in 2011-12 (Planning Commission data). In 2011-12, 22% of the population (one in five Indians) lived in extreme poverty. This figure is expected to decline to 5% by 2022, as per World Poverty Clock estimate. However, 80% of the poor in India live in villages. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh have the poorest areas. 43% of the poor belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe categories, as per World Bank statistics (2016). This disparity needs immediate attention of the government.

Despite the World Poverty Clock claims of decline in poverty, the pandemic has made all all such predictions go wrong according to Pew Research Center there has been a significant decline of almost 32 million in the middle class due to the Pandemic in the country. The report also brings light on how the year of the pandemic has increased the number of poor (living on $2 or less) to have doubled from 59 million to 134 million.

Pollution

Pollution and environmental issues are the other challenges that India is facing at present. Though India is working hard, there is a long way to go. Degradation of land, depleting natural resources, and loss of biodiversity are the main issues of concern due to pollution. Untreated sewerage is the major cause of water pollution. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers are today two of the most polluted rivers in India. Same is the condition of other rivers that pass through populated cities. Additionally, increasing construction and vehicular traffic also contribute to pollution in the cities. India needs to embark on a model of sustainable development.

According to the World Air Quality report published in 2021, Three Indian cities (Bhiwadi, Ghaziabad and New Delhi) featured in the Top most polluted cities in the World. This stat is scary enough and requires government to take quick actions and not gamble with the health of the citizens.

Women’s Safety

Both men and women enjoy equal opportunities, but as far as freedom and safety of women are concerned, India lags behind. Issues like domestic violence, rape, the portrayal of women in media, etc., must be tackled immediately.

Infrastructure

India needs to work swiftly on its infrastructure development, towards better roads, affordable housing and services like water, sanitation, primary healthcare, etc. According to the Union budget 2021, the government has allocated Rs 233,083 crore to enhance the transport infrastructure. Adding to this, Government of India is also expanding the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and is expected to invest $1 trillion to boost the infrastructure.

Unemployment 

Unemployment, nowadays, is very common among the youth. This situation is also known as joblessness. Moreover, it is a set of circumstances where an able-bodied person is willingly searching for a job but is not able to find it. We can calculate the percentage of unemployed people prevalent in the economy by dividing it with the number of individuals currently present in the labour force. The government of India must take the necessary steps to eradicate it by creating more government and public sector job opportunities. Also, it needs to support private sector industry that could provide jobs to the ones who really deserve it. As per the Centre for monitoring Indian Economy data, the rate of unemployment has touched 8.10% in February 2022. This rate of unemployment is high for a country like India. If not tackled immediately, it will become a challenge for our society and economy.

Agricultural Distress

India is a country which is widely famous for its agriculture throughout the world. But the sad plight of our country lies in the fact that here farmers face too many problems. Such as lack of basic amenities of irrigation systems, agricultural implements and short or long-term loans. The exploitation of farmers at the hands of moneylenders is a very prominent and common issue that immediately needs to be looked into. Stories of farmers committing suicide appear in the media almost every day. As per the India economic survey 2018, the estimated data states that the percentage of agricultural workers in the total workforce is likely to drop up to 25.7% by 2050 from 58.2% in 2001. Therefore, agriculture needs to be revived at the earliest.

The rise in Global Protectionism

India is still in its developing phase, on the way to becoming a developed nation. Our country is enthusiastically overcoming each and every challenge coming across its way. Some of the grievances listed by India against developed countries such as the US are the problems encountered by the exporters of IT services, and tariffs imposed on the exports of products like steel and aluminium by the US. The US has also imposed sanctions on the purchase of crude oil from Iran, which is likely to hamper the Indian economy and increase its import bill. Moreover, India faces a constant threat of tariffs from many countries, and pressure to open up its domestic market. Therefore, the newly formed government must take necessary steps to protect the interests of India from foreign powers, that are constantly interfering in all spheres.

To conclude, the government of India needs to create an ecosystem that enables private investments, increased consumption, the competitiveness of exports and swift infrastructural investment. These steps can catapult India to the status of a global superpower that it rightly deserves.

India prime minister is not a polictcal man he his business man

[technodabhi]

Modi govt’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign changed lives of people: BJP

Modi govt’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign changed lives of people: BJP

Noting that the government has built toilets in over 11.5 crore households under its ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission, the BJP said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams about cleanliness and effected change in the lives of a large number of Indians. Referring to the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign and the scheme to supply piped drinking water to…

[reportodisha]

PM transfers Rs. 1000 crore to SHGs benefitting around 16 lakh women members

December 21 The Prime Minister transferred an amount of Rs. 1000 crore in the bank account of Self Help Groups (SHGs), benefitting around 16 lakh women members of the SHGs. This transfer is being done under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), with 80,000 SHGs receiving Community Investment Fund (CIF) of Rs. 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60,000 SHGs receiving Revolving Fund of Rs. 15000 per SHG. The programme witnessed the Prime Minister encouraging Business Correspondent-Sakhis (B.C.-Sakhis),  by transferring Rs. 4000 as first month's stipend in account of 20,000 B.C.-Sakhis. Prime Minister also transferred a total amount of over 20 crore to more than 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Scheme.  The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 202 Supplementary Nutrition Manufacturing Units. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Prayagraj and participated in a programme being held to empower women, especially at the grassroot level. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the doyen of Hindi literature Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi on his death anniversary. He said Prayagraj has been the land of confluence of Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati, the symbol of our mother power for thousands of years. Today this pilgrimage city is also witnessing such a wonderful confluence of women-power, he said. The Prime Minister said the entire country is witnessing the work being done for women empowerment in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister said schemes like Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, under which he transferred  crores of rupees to the accounts of more than one lakh beneficiary daughters of the state today, are becoming a great medium of trust for the rural poor and for the girls. The Prime Minister remarked that the security, dignity and respect ensured by the double-engine government for the women of UP is unprecedented. The women of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said, have decided that they will not allow the return of earlier circumstances. The Prime Minister mentioned that the government has tried to awaken the consciousness of society to prevent sex selective abortions by Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. This has resulted in an increase in the numbers of daughters in many states, he said. The Prime Minister said the Government is focused on immunization of pregnant women, delivery in hospitals and nutrition during pregnancy. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Rs 5000 is deposited in the bank account of women during pregnancy, so that they can take care of proper diet. The Prime Minister listed many steps that have led to enhanced dignity of women. With the construction of crores of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, facility of gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme, and tap water in the house itself, a new convenience is also coming in the lives of sisters, the Prime Minister said. . The Prime Minister remarked that for decades, house and property were considered as the right of men only. He said the schemes of the government are removing this inequality. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is the biggest example of this. The houses being given under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are being built in the name of women on priority basis. The Prime Minister said that in the schemes being run for employment and increasing the income of the family, women are being made equal partners. Today, Mudra Yojana is encouraging new women entrepreneurs, even from poor families in  villages. He added that women are also being linked with self-help groups and rural organizations across the country through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana. “I consider the sisters of women self-help groups to be the champions of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign. These self-help groups are actually National Help Groups”, the Prime Minister emphasized. The Prime Minister remarked that the double-engine government, without any discrimination is working relentlessly to empower the future of daughters. He also informed about the important decision regarding the legal age of marriage for girls. “Earlier, the legal age of marriage for sons was 21 years, but for daughters it was only 18 years. The daughters also wanted that they should get time to pursue their studies and to get equal opportunities. Therefore, efforts are being made to bring the age of marriage to 21 years for daughters. The country is taking this decision for the sake of daughters”, Shri Modi said. The Prime Minister referred to the improvement of the law and order situation in the state in recent years. He said the biggest beneficiary of this eradication of mafia raj and lawlessness are the  sisters and daughters of UP. He lauded the Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath for bringing the situation under control. The Prime Minister said “today, there is security as well as rights in Uttar Pradesh. Today UP has possibilities as well as business. I have  full faith that with the blessings of our mothers and sisters, no one can push this new UP back into the darkness”. Stay tuned for more updates.... Read the full article

[sunitasingh1]

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

It is commonly stated that the cleanliness of one's environment is critical to one's health and well-being. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by the Indian government on October 2nd, 2014, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Swachata (cleanliness) was emphasized by Gandhiji because he sincerely believed it was the path to a healthy and prosperous life.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to clean up both rural and urban regions across India. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs would be in charge of the mission's urban component, while the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation would be in charge of the mission's rural component.

Urban Swachh Bharat Mission

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is in charge of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). The following are the areas of focus: 

Construction of adequate toilet facilities

Management of Solid Waste

Public Awareness and Information and Education Communication (IEC)

Building Capacity

One of the key goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission is to educate people about cleanliness and sanitation. People will only pay attention to and follow sanitation standards once they are aware of the importance of cleanliness to a person's and society's health and well-being.

The programme also attempts to eliminate open defecation, manual scavenging, and instill in people a sense of fundamental cleanliness, among other things. Furthermore, it strives to build toilets in families, public toilets, and communal toilets in order to provide a sufficient number of facilities and to encourage people to develop a feeling of hygiene and sanitation. The initiative also intends to establish a solid waste management system in each municipality in order to instill a sense of cleanliness.

The following are some of the goals that have been set:

All statutory towns have received ODF+ accreditation. The acronym ODF stands for "Open Defecation Free Certification."

ODF++ certification for statutory towns with populations under 1 lakh.

Water+ certification is required in 50 percent of statutory towns with populations of less than 1 lakh people.

Three-star rating All statutory towns are garbage-free, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' Star Rating Protocol for Garbage-Free Cities.

All legacy dumpsites are being bioremediation.

Gramin Swachh Bharat Mission

Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin is the name of the rural project, which is run by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. The primary goal is to eliminate open defecation in the villages and adjacent areas. The programme also includes the provision of a solid and liquid waste management system in order to ensure a greater level of sanitation, hygiene, and, above all, cleanliness.

The programme intends to offer Individual Household Latrines to rural households, particularly those living below the poverty line. Furthermore, as part of the scheme, community toilets will be built. The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin initiative also ensures the availability of regular clean water for storing and other needs.

It is billed as the world's largest behavior change program, and it is going about it the correct way, with the goal of bringing about change at the grassroots level. When people are asked to participate in this program, a sense of responsibility is established in them, reminding them that they have a personal responsibility for the cleanliness of their surroundings and society.

Suggested Read: Recycling Waste Management System

[designdekko]

Public sanitation: Design interventions lead the change

A 2017 report by the WHO found while 74% of the world’s population used at least a basic sanitation service, approximately 2 billion still did not have access to basic sanitation facilities like toilets and latrines – a rather shocking statistic when weighed against the amount of progress you see in the world today. Another highly disconcerting statistic on the subject is from a UNICEF blog, which noted 673 million people still defecate in the open, for example, in street gutters, behind bushes, or open water bodies.

Most urban millennials are unaware of the actual impact human waste and its incorrect disposal has on life across the planet. But trips around the country highlight the glaring shortcomings of India’s public sanitation system and every successive government’s inability to stick to its pre-electoral promises of improvement on that count. Of course, there has been improvement, but the pace at which we are changing isn’t still satisfactory.

Also Read | Holt Renfrew Ogilvy dazzles as a sustainably forward luxury flagship

In 1999, the Indian government introduced the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) to accelerate sanitation coverage throughout the country, particularly in rural areas. It focused on information and education to generate public demand for sanitation facilities, particularly in schools. The TSC made some progress, but it suffered from its relatively low priority and ineffective deployment of resources. Renamed Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014, the GOI, armed with a barrage of shocking statistics and a revised mandate, took up the cause with renewed vigour, putting a significant dent in the widespread problem of sanitation.

Where to draw inspiration from?

Japan’s spotless, pop-anime, Kawaii-cute, tech-driven toilets are the stuff of legend, with tourists excitedly using them for that perfect Instagram moment. In fact, the country gained global media attention for its Tokyo Toilet project. Who’d think a public urinal would make for a perfect photo-op?

Switzerland is one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations, has toilets so clean that you can lie down in them. In Paris, the City of Light: a monolithic domed structure stood with a few scattered people standing in a queue in the middle of a Parisian cobble-stoned street. A sliding door whooshed open, revealing a clean albeit soaking wet toilet inside. Pictorial instructions outside the loo read: Post a single use, the entire toilet is sealed and sanitized, and only then access is granted to the next person.

Also Read | Marieville Celebrates Its Past While Building for the Future

All this was planned and executed before the pandemic took over the world. Also, it is free. It is definitely impressive but is this a viable option for a country like India with its large populace and disparate economic structure?

Modern problems need modern solutions. I spoke to Rohan Chavan, principal architect at RC Architects and the mind behind Lightbox, a one-of-kind public urinal for women with space for social gatherings. Rohan engages with projects and issues related to public and community sanitation, urban design, affordable and low-cost housing, single-family houses, space design, and institutions. His signature approach to design created the Lightbox. This public urinal redefines the concept of ‘restroom’, taking it beyond just being a public toilet and creating a unique, visually attractive space that caters to the peri-urban female population living in and around the Thane region in Maharashtra (India).

Also Read | MERAKI: New Adhesive Wall Coverings Designed by Artists From Quebec

Over a short phone interview, Rohan spoke of how, as a designer, he took the initiative to design the Lightbox when Agasti, a social enterprise working in urban sanitation in Mumbai, floated a brief.

Wanting to create something to take to the municipal corporations to add to public sanitation infrastructure, in the hopes that it would be a departure from the largely unappealing ones that already existed, Chavan structured his design around a tree, aware that paucity of space in an urban setting was likely and he would have to work with what he was offered. His design was just as adaptable to smaller or larger spaces and could be tweaked to fit different venues.

Also Read | Bright whites, chrome yellows, and curved geometry put together a space that promotes life

Lightbox is covered under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals at #5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Built around a large tree, the 10’ x 30’ restroom features two urinal blocks each at both ends, with a standard washbasin, a nursing room and a toilet for handicapped or senior citizens. The centre of the restroom was a garden measuring 15’ x 10’ that was meant for various activities like a place to rest, a free gallery to display art for amateur artists, a place for lectures and awareness campaigns, celebrating festivals, seasonal activities and events.

The central garden was a metaphor for spaces where people can sit and relax under a tree in the shade and socialize. The restroom with toilet blocks was fitted with a biodigester to reduce freshwater use and improved waste management. It also included a nursing room and amenities like sanitary pads vending machine and incinerator, CCTV cameras, mobile charging points, and a panic alarm system.

Rohan’s efficient use of modern materials resulted in natural light in the restroom, eased the process to keep the toilets clean and ensured high durability and construction within a specific budget. Rohan, however, is quick to point out that the design can be customized to fit a variety of sizes and use different materials, thus making it more sustainable.

Chavan recounted an instance when policemen at the police station across the street from Lightbox were so taken with the concept that they eagerly inquired about why there were no such facilities for men. He was also excited about the amateur artist showcase within the restroom, an unusual venue for an art show but an important one to highlight the accessibility of art and the opportunity to incorporate culture into everyday life.

While Lightbox sees social interaction as the key to the solution, LooCafe wants to hit the root cause of why public sanitation projects fail: Lack of safety, technology, and revenue-generating opportunity.

Also Read | An Ambitious and Thoughtful Vision for Montreal’s Largest Insular Park

With over 450 locations to its name, LooCafe, the brainchild of Abhishek Nath, MD & CEO, Ixora FM, is all set to expand across Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karnataka. The concept is a simple tuck shop with a public urinal attached, sizes ranging from 4x8 ft, 20x8ft and 40x8ft, made of a shipping container or pre-fabricated materials to maintain long-term cost-effectiveness – basically a study in upcycling. And the brand is constantly learning, adjusting its designs and making changes where necessary. A cafe is attached to the front to add a layer of revenue generation opportunity. The attractive facades and cosy, clean interiors are home to thoroughly cleaned and disabled-friendly washrooms which use several sensors and technology to make them sustainable, clean and trustworthy.

With an increase in road trips during the pandemic and transportation of goods and personnel across state lines, initiatives like LooCafe are a viable business model and encourage safe sanitation practices, thereby slowly but surely transforming the nation’s response to public sanitation.

Also Read | Everything's Visual: food photographer Shumaila Chauhan and visual artist Shaun D'sa

The societal impact of projects like Lightbox and initiatives like LooCafe was clearly visible. Such unique design interventions represent a burgeoning design collective bent on creating distinctive architectural and spatial perspectives. Some of these are initiatives that governments and municipal corporations across the country must take advantage of and be utilized by the public.

Yes, there have been concentrated moves to build a network of public urinals, with their glossy tiled facades promising better facilities and clean services to its users. But inside, in barely-lit caverns of fetid water, lie disease and stench and the hopelessness of an impoverished citizenry in desperate need of what others might constitute as a fundamental human right.

Also Read | Public sanitation: Design interventions lead the change

However, hope now lies in the hands of a few thoughtful individuals contributing ideas and government bodies prioritizing public sanitation in their regular mandates and worldwide recognition of an endemic issue deeply rooted in neglect.

The article is part of a series of blogs by the writer on public sanitation and design interventions experienced during her travel around India and the world. Views expressed are of author.

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[bbcbreakingnews]

Bengal has to choose between development and cut money culture: Nadda

KOLKATA: Making a strong pitch for a BJP government in West Bengal to usher in ‘Asol Poriborton’ (real change), party chief J P Nadda on Thursday sought to punch a hole in the TMC‘s main poll plank of Bengali pride and asked the people of the state whether they want to side with development or “cut money culture”. Nadda, while launching the ‘Lokkho Sonar Bangla‘ (target to build golden Bengal) manifesto crowdsourcing campaign to seek suggestions from more than two crore people in the state ahead of the assembly elections, alleged that Bengali icons and women have been neglected and the “pride of Bengal has to be restored”. He said that the party’s manifesto will stress the socio-economic empowerment of the Matua community, women and youth, and put an end to the “cut money” and “syndicate” culture in the state. “The Lokkho Sonar Bangla campaign will begin on March 3 and continue till March 30. We aim to reach out to more than two crore people spread across all the 294 constituencies. “There will be 30,000 suggestion boxes, and people can also give suggestions digitally. We don’t think we have all the wisdom, so we want to seek suggestions from the common people in our endeavour to build Sonar Bangla,” Nadda said during the launch of the programme. Claiming that the campaign is aimed at bringing the state on the path of development, the BJP chief said the party seeks suggestions on how to boost industry, agriculture, health and religious tourism among other sectors. “The campaign aims to free the state from corruption, coal smuggling syndicate raj and cut money culture. West Bengal has a lot of potential, which has, however, been curtailed over the years due to vested political interests. We want to bring back the glorious days of the state,” he said. The BJP chief promised that the party will implement the Seventh Pay Commission in the state if voted to power. “West Bengal is at the crossroads. It has to decide whether it wants development or to side with the culture of corruption and cut money. For the state’s development, we need a double-engine government (same party’s government both at the Centre and the state),” he said. Apart from the ongoing five-phase ‘Parivartan Yatra’, ‘Lokko Sonar Bangla’ is another mass contact programme launched by the BJP ahead of the assembly elections due in April-May. Nadda said that the BJP aims to build a West Bengal where women can live without fear and students from the Matua community get education and jobs to lead a good life. “The icons of Bengal who have been the leading lights of the country and have guided India both before and after Independence have been neglected in the state. We will take Bengal to new heights by following the teachings and ideals of Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore among others,” he said. He said more than 1.4 crore toilets have been built in West Bengal under the Swacch Bharat Mission, and the figures speak about the condition of the women in the state. “The Swachh Bharat Mission was criticised by many people when it launched. But look how this scheme of construction of toilets has empowered women in the rural areas. “Our mothers and sisters had to wait till dusk to relieve themselves. But more than 11 crore toilets have been built across the country, including 1.4 crore in Bengal. This speaks about the condition of the women,” he said. His comments come just days after the TMC unveiled its poll slogan ‘Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chaye’ (Bengal wants its own daughter), portraying Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as its mascot with a focus on women voters and Bengali sub- nationalism. Bengali actor Payal Sarkar joined the saffron party in the presence of Nadda. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership claimed that the police denied permission for its ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district, scheduled to be addressed by Nadda in the evening.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2021/02/25/bengal-has-to-choose-between-development-and-cut-money-culture-nadda/

[malikkavita]

6 Ways to Bridge the Urban-Rural Divide in Sanitation

As the country is moving towards technological and infrastructural development and advancements, one can not neglect the importance of other important elements that are essential for the overall growth of the country. These elements include public health and sanitation, cleanliness, social and economic welfare, etc. To work upon the cleanliness and sanitation sphere, in 2014, under the guidance of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This has been India’s one most phenomenal achievement and over the years, India as a country has been working towards the attainment of the goal of a Clean and Green India.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has launched two programmes under it for urban and rural areas as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-Gramin and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan- Urban to work on cleanliness and sanitation in their respective areas. One of the obstacles to the achievement of Swachh Bharat is the lack of education in rural areas regarding the importance of cleanliness and sanitation.

When talking about the problems that exist in the sanitation area are open defecation and lack of hygiene. The construction of toilets in every household has been a priority work under this mission. Rural sanitation in India has been behind compared to urban. But, one thing to pay attention to is that the long bridge between urban and rural areas has been a key factor affecting the quality of sanitation and cleanliness. Both proper and complete rural sanitation and urban sanitation are important for eradicating unhygienic practices that may lead to the spread of communicable diseases.

Hence, to overcome these disparities between rural and urban areas, here are six ways:

Finance and funding: Wealth and funding are one of the most important things that will help in bringing changes in rural areas when it comes to encouraging sanitary practices. Government should target assistance for the poor and facilitate access to finance in these areas. There should also be a regulation to keep in check the funds and how they have been utilised when it comes to Swachh Bharat. One of the most important things would be the construction of toilets in every household.

Education and spreading awareness: This point has been emphasised quite a few times on how people in these villages and rural areas must be educated on the importance of sanitation. India’s “no toilet, no bride” campaign, for one, has proved more motivating than many other initiatives.  

Encourage willingness to pay: It can be seen nowadays that people are understanding how the standard of living can affect health. Hence, they are willing to pay for better quality amenities and services. For example, people tend to now invest in water treatment plants in villages for holistic growth and well-being. Hence, once the politicians of these villages receive funds for the construction of toilets and other such sanitation activities, they should make sure to work upon it and give the people what they need and deserve.

End social exclusion: Everyone is entitled to proper sanitation and cleanliness in their lives, and whatever amenities provide these things are also made for all, equally. Hence, there should be fair participation as well as distribution of resources for both urban and rural areas.

Experimenting with new technologies: People are often hesitant to adapt to new things. Nowadays, new technologies are built with the perspective to provide low-cost yet quality service. Sanitation technology should also work towards these and help people understand how they could utilise these services and lead a healthy life. Prepaid water cards are a good example of advancements in this area.

Surveys and data collection: It is important for the Government to conduct frequent surveys in order to understand the growth in their efforts and how these sanitation facilities have been helpful or what changes are needed. Geocoding, crowdsourcing, and open data systems can help in planning a systematic structure for development.

[news-chhondomela]

Odisha woman, grandchildren living in Swachh Bharat toilet rehabilitated

Odisha woman, grandchildren living in Swachh Bharat toilet rehabilitated

Written by Aishwarya Mohanty | Bhubaneswar | Updated: October 15, 2020 7:07:32 am

The toilet, and cooking utensils near it. (Express Photo)

For over two months, a 3 ft x 4 ft x 6 ft toilet built under the Swachh Bharat Mission in Baisana village in Kishorenagar taluka of Odisha’s Angul district was home to a septuagenarian woman and…

[xtruss]

The WaterAid report highlighted that globally, one in three people still have no access to a decent toilet.

More Than 732 Million Indians Don’t Have Access to Toilets: Report

— Neetu Chandra Sharma

The situation is worse for women as 355 million of them are waiting for a toilet, three years after the launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, says a WaterAid report

New Delhi: More than 732 million Indians still defecate in the open or in unsafe and unhygienic toilets, three years after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India Mission), said a report released on Thursday.

The ‘State of the World’s Toilets 2017’ report by WaterAid, which works on issues related to water and sanitation, said the situation was worse for women and girls, 355 million of whom are still waiting for a toilet, the report said.

The statistics also depict India as the country with the maximum number of people (around 56%) without toilets and basic sanitation.

“In India, a staggering 355 million women and girls are still waiting for a toilet; if they were all to stand in a queue, it would stretch around the Earth more than four times. According to government, under Swachh Bharat Mission, 52 million household toilets were built between October 2014 (since its launch) and November 2017. India also ranks in the top ten for reducing open defecation and improving access to basic sanitation. But there is still a long way to go," said the report.

Swachh Bharat was launched on 2 October 2014, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, to eliminate the practice of open defecation by ensuring a toilet in every household.

“Reaching all 1.28 billion people in India with basic services is a huge challenge. The Indian government has a target of eliminating open defecation by the end of 2019. The work is far from done, and the need stretches beyond households to schools and hospitals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), two in five health centres lack basic sanitation, putting patients and health workers at risk of infection," it said.

Globally, the report highlighted that one in three people still have no access to a decent toilet. For more than 1.1 billion women and girls, it results in an increased risk of poor health, limited education, lost opportunities, vulnerability and the embarrassment of defecating in the open. China, Nigeria and Ethopia follow India in terms of lack of basic sanitation.

“While India is making rapid progress in improving sanitation under the ongoing Swachh Bharat Mission, we need to ensure inclusion, recognising the importance of safe and accessible toilets specific to the needs of the differently abled, the elderly, the poorest, as well as women and adolescent girls," V.K. Madhavan, chief executive of WaterAid India, said.

“The lack of toilets affects women and girls disproportionately at every stage in their life, increasing their health risks manifold, while adversely impacting on their safety and dignity. We need to recognise that ending open defecation is but one step towards ensuring safely managed and sustainable sanitation," he said.

[fringenotes]

Swachh Bharat, Delhi Air Pollution, Why Govt fails big time?

It is again that time of the year in Delhi. Monsoon is over, Winter (thanks to changing climate) is yet to come, but air is slightly cold and foggy. Noise related to pollution has again started to appear on social media time lines - Posts on Paddy stub burning, trucks coming, open construction etc. But fact of the matter is that winter of 2017 is going to be as much polluted if not less than winter of 2016 which was as bad as that of 2015. Before the hidden politician amongst us jumps and starts looking at performance of rhetoric driven AAP Govt, let us look at performance of another regime which is also trying to another big problem plaguing India and that is cleanliness in India.

PM Modi launched a drive to make India clean on 15th Aug 2014. Work started on a war footing with words backed by large budgets & media campaigns.  Govt has spent/allocated more than 26000 Cr ($3.5 bn) on Swachha Bharat since 2014 but there is hardly any impact seen on the ground. Despite 'in your face' campaigns, large money spending, the situation has not improved at all. Take a stroll in any of our marquee cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Varansi, Agra etc and landscape remains as dirty as ever. Earlier there was just garbage all over now there is garbage with hoardings of Clean India! There are campaigns and big talk of toilets being built every where but in reality, everything is as it was prior to 2014 except an addition of storage room aka a dysfunctional toilet in every rural household and this futile exercise has consumed close to $ 3.5 bn in hard cash.Now  again before we start looking at failure of BJP and its inability to move things, we need to ponder and need to look beyond parties. Its not AAP / BJP / Congress failure but a failure of Govt or rather a failure of the way the Govt thinks. 

If one look carefully and analyse the way govt acts it will come out that Indian government rarely thinks in terms of performance, end result, or NPS score of target consumers / customers but always think in terms of money being spend / allocated and scheme names. This though process has led to a scenario where whole government thought process is limited to budget / cess / allocations & vanity matrices like 100% literacy, 100% village electrification (If 10% houses get electricity, its considered electrified for the purpose of govt record) and naming all such schemes after Nehru Ji, Gandhi Ji and now on Atal ji and DeenDayal ji. 

If there is any doubt on this line of Govt thinking, kindly look at advertisements released by various Govt under various regimes. It does not matter if advertisement was released by Jayalalitha or Karunanidhi, Mayawati or Akhilesh, Manmohan Singh or Modi, the template remains same.  Some scheme name, big photo graph of the leader along with data on quantum of huge crores being spent,  so many families benefitting, blah blah. Suddenly you wonder if there was really a regime change or the same set of people are still running the government under a different set of masks!

Hence If one looks at Swach Bharat campaign from government perspective, whole campaign looks super success full with  26,000 Cr allocated, more than 52 million toilets built, India is on way to become super clean. But the reality on ground is totally different. Was there any issue on the Govt intent? NO, Govt was as determined as it can be but core issue has been thought process where Govt can only think from budget outlays. Nobody focussed on fundamental problems related to toilets/sanitation and challenges related to it. 

Fact of the matter is that India is neither ready nor can afford western model of toilets. First there are no sewage system in any of the villages or towns and on top of it there is hardly any water. In India the difference between have nots and haves is just one simple thing - access to clean running water. Only rich and middle class have access to it while rest of the India battles for few liters of potable water every day. With focus on having toilets,  a person who was using 300 ml water in open defactaion earlier,  now needs 3 liter water at his house and this house has no running water no access to sewer lines and no place to build sewage pits. The house in villages are either interconnected or clustered together having no scope to build open pit system. Even if one builds an open system, what to do during monsoon flooding or filling of tanks in 2 years as there is no manpower working in these areas? So if one looks at the constraint on the ground - no water, no waste disposal system, the idea of “Swachh Bharat” by building toilets was DOA ( dead on arrival) however the whole Govt machinery just went ahead with the plan -  as it knows one thing best which is to create a budget and collect money for it. So whole Govt went ahead with 26,000 Cr in hand even without understanding the basic problem of sanitation and challenges related to water, disposal, treatment etc.

So again before passionate hidden politicians jump and start blaming Modi govt. pause and see what happened at Delhi. 

Delhi Govt in all earnestness appointed IIT Kanpur to do study and find out the cause of pollution in Delhi. The report which has its own serious flaws in methodologies / simplistic observations / conclusions,  was still adopted by Delhi Govt but none of the simplistic solution was implemented by it. Why? Simple reason is  that solutions were like 1000 cuts war on pollution rather than any big bang budget approach and to make matter worse the improvement would have showed by 2022 (election is in 2020). Since there is no big budget allocation, no ribbon cutting and no big hoardings, the report and solutions have been conveniently parked in a cold storage. 

So what is the solution? The only solution to all such problems is one that is delinking budgets from any action. Govt needs to think in form of solutions/ results rather than in terms of budgets and big bang approach.  For example in the quoted IIT Kanpur report, road side dirt in summer had very high weightage. A small team could have taken a cluster of Delhi and implemented changes to see if vacuuming the road and covering construction is creating any localised impact and what could solve this. Lot of A/B testing in startup parlance but with focus on finding solution rather than big bang talk with focus on election!. Likewise for Swachh Bahart, It would have been better if Govt had done trials on some select cities like Agra, Varanasi, Bangalore etc and figured out what is working and what is not working. Or in villages, focus could have been on building community toilets rather than at individual homes.  

Executing small projects is not complicated and there is enough talented manpower with the Govt in addition to the large budgets, but then small projects don’t get allocation or gravitas from the top. Further these projects can’t be run by politicians as they are tied to 5 year horizon and neither by bureaucrats with transferable jobs. This project needs people with long term engagement as well as skin in the game with suitable rewards as well as accountability and punishments. Until the existing system thinks in terms of a long term model with proper accountability and life time postings, India will remain refugee to musical chair policy making and will slowly decline to a hell hole in terms of quality of life in no times as policies designed for salvery don’t work in democracy on a long term basis! The end

[msgates]

93% of rural households now have access to toilets, over 9 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat ... Click here for articles March 06, 2019 at 06:56PM

[bbcbreakingnews]

Dropout of Muslim girl students reduced, govt concerned about their education, empowerment: PM Modi

NEW DELHI:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that dropout rate of Muslim girl students has reduced due to government policies said that the Centre is deeply concerned about their education and empowerment. “School dropout rate among Muslim girls was more than 70 per cent and this situation persisted for 70 years. In these circumstances, the government started Swachh Bharat Mission, built toilets in villages and toilets for school-going girls. Now the dropout rate from 70 per cent has fallen to nearly 30 per cent. The Central government is continuously working to reduce their dropout rates,” he said speaking at the centenary celebrations of Aligarh Muslim University on Tuesday. “At AMU, the number of female students increased to 35 per cent. I want to congratulate you. Sarkaar ka Muslim betiyon ke shiksha aur shashaktikaran pe bahut dhyaan hai (The government is deeply concerned about education and empowerment of Muslim daughters). In the last six years, scholarships have been provided by the government to around 1 crore Muslim daughters,” he added. “Education brings employment and entrepreneurship with itself, employment and entrepreneurship bring economic independence, which leads to empowerment. An empowered woman, at every level and in every decision, contributes as much as any other person,” the PM said. He said that the country has moved forward in the direction of creation of the modern Muslim community after abolishing malpractice like triple talaq. “Nearly 100 years ago, the Founder-Chancellor of AMU, Begum Sultan worked towards the creation of the modern Muslim community. Today, after abolishing malpractice like triple talaq, the country has moved forward in that direction,” he said. The Prime Minister said that resources of the country belong to every citizen and every one of them should benefit from it. “Jo desh ka hai woh har deshvaasi ka hai (Resources of the country belongs to every citizen). Everyone should benefit from it, that’s the spirit our government is working with,” PM Modi said “The policies which are being framed today are reaching every section without discrimination on the basis of religion. Bank accounts of over 40 crore poor were opened without any discrimination. Without discrimination, more than 2 crore poor were provided pucca houses. More than 8 crore women got gas connections without discrimination. 50 crore people got free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman scheme without any discrimination,” he said. PM Modi said that the country is marching forward on the path where every citizen would get the benefits of development happening in the country without any discrimination. “The country is on the path where every citizen should rest assured about their constitutional rights & their future. The country is on the path where no citizen would be left behind because of their religion and everyone would get equal opportunities so that everyone can fulfil their dreams. Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is the mantra behind it,” he said.Earlier in the day, PM Modi released a postal stamp as part of centenary celebrations of AMU. This is the first time PM Modi is participating in a programme of the Aligarh Muslim University.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2020/12/22/dropout-of-muslim-girl-students-reduced-govt-concerned-about-their-education-empowerment-pm-modi/