GUWAHATI, July 26 - Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Assam, today launched a massive campaign titled �Swachh Survekshan Grameen� (SSG 2018) across the State.
The campaign was inaugurated by Public Health Engineering Minister Rihon Daimari in NEDFi Convention Centre here by flagging off a �Swaachhta Rath� containing all the details about the campaign, to be held between August 1 to 31.
Daimari, while addressing a gathering of more than 200 people, stated that the campaign is being taken up across all the 33 districts covering 219 blocks. These districts would conduct large-scale information, education and communication (IEC) and inter-personal communication (IPC) activities, which would sensitise the people about sanitation and SSG 2018.
The PHE Minister also spoke about the mechanism put in place for the implementation of the campaign across all the districts. Subsequently, all the 33 districts will launch their respective Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 in their headquarters.
IEC activities have already been initiated in all the districts where people are informed about sanitation and SSG 2018. The survey is a positive step towards mass sensitisation of the people in Assam about sanitation.
So far, around 28 lakh toilets have been constructed and 12 districts declared as open defecation free (ODF) in the State. The Central government has provided Rs 138 crore for repairing of dysfunctional toilets.
The minister further stated that an impact study covering 72,582 households in 744 gram panchayats across the State revealed that 96 per cent of them have access to toilets and 89 per cent are using these facilities.
Today�s event was also attended by Mission Director (SBM-G) Dr Siddharth Singh and Chief Engineer (PHE) Saumya Kumar Baruah.
The Survekshan will rank states and districts based on key quantitative and qualitative SBM-G parameters like availability and usage of toilet, sanitary awareness in villages, direct observation by third party and citizens� feedback.
The campaign would also engage the rural community in improvement of their sanitation status through an intensive and holistic IEC campaign.
