ITANAGAR: In what could be termed as a major milestone and an another shining feather on the cap of Arunachal Pradesh on cleanliness etiquette, Tawang district of the State has been adjudged as the cleanest district in the entire North-East by Swachh Survekshan Gramin (SSG)-2018.
The SSG-2018 was conducted by a 3rd party independent agency engaged by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India from 1st August’ 2018 to 31stAugust’2018 across the Country in 698 Districts. The evaluation process were based on - direct observation of Sanitation in public places (30%), Citizen feedback (35%) and service level progress on sanitation as per Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), IMIS (35%) parameters.
Union Minister for Drinking Water & Sanitation Uma Bharti gave away the award to the state in a glittering function at New Delhi on 2nd October commemorating the 150thBirth anniversary of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi. Sentum Yomcha, Mission Director, SBM (G) of PHE & WS Department received the coveted award on behalf of the State Government.
The State (Arunachal Pradesh) had earlier achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) on 31st December’ 2017. The SSG-2018 in the State was launched by Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 25th July’ 2018 followed by District level launch by the respective Deputy Commissioners under the guidance of Chief Secretary. The State Government had supported the objectives of SBM (G) in the State by funding exclusively for reconstruction of Defunct & conversion of insanitary toilets to sanitary toilets. The State Govt. earlier provided additional incentives of Rs 8000 per Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) which had boosted the rural masses to adopt Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) at the enhanced cost of Rs.20000/- per IHHL.