Swachh Bharat Mission: Slow toilet construction in Jamshedpur raises concerns

Jamshedpur: Following the directives of District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner  Ananya Mittal, a comprehensive review meeting was held at the Collectorate Auditorium to assess the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) and Jal Jeevan Mission. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC)  Manish Kumar, with key focus on the ongoing projects under these missions in the Jamshedpur and Adityapur divisions.

During the review, it was reported that under Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) Phase 2, out of the total 1,197 villages in the Jamshedpur division, 1,043 villages have been awarded 1-star, 3-star, or 5-star rankings for cleanliness and sanitation. Similarly, in Adityapur division, 246 out of 443 villages have achieved these rankings. The DDC emphasized the importance of completing the remaining targets by December 2024 and urged for quicker action.

The meeting also highlighted the slow progress in constructing individual household toilets. In Jamshedpur division, only 231 toilets have been built against a target of 13,218, while in Adityapur, just 76 toilets have been completed out of a goal of 6,593. Expressing his displeasure over the slow pace,  Kumar directed officials to motivate eligible beneficiaries to ensure timely completion of toilet construction. Special instructions were given to integrate toilet construction with the housing scheme Abua Awas for those who had not previously benefited.

While reviewing the construction of plastic separation sheds in panchayats, it was noted that 54 sheds have been completed so far, which is significantly below the target.  Kumar instructed that all sheds be completed by December 2024 to meet the required standards.

The DDC also stressed the importance of community participation in the upcoming Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 program, urging local leaders and officials to involve village-level committees and residents to make the initiative a success.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the DDC directed that construction of 10 hand pumps per panchayat be expedited. For villages where the Single Village Scheme (SVS) and SVS clusters are facing issues due to an unfinished water source, he instructed the preparation of alternative proposals.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the Kuliyana Multi-Village Scheme (MVS), he instructed officials to accelerate the work. Additionally, he called for the rapid completion of household water connections in SVS and SVS Cluster villages, and for a swift conclusion to the work under the Bagbeda MVS scheme.

The meeting was attended by Executive Engineers, SDOs, AEs, JEs, and other officials of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department. The Deputy Development Commissioner urged all officers to adhere to the deadlines and ensure the successful implementation of the Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Missions to improve sanitation and water access across the region.