Latest news with #e-GramSwaraj
Economic Times
2 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Only 54% of verified villages achieve 'ODF plus model' status despite 80% coverage: Govt review
TIL Creatives Representational AI Image. While 80 per cent of villages targeted under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) are open defecation free and have solid and liquid waste managements systems in place, only 54 per cent are officially verified, a government review found. The data was presented at the National Rural Sanitation Workshop held in New Delhi on Wednesday. The review also showed that grey water management has reached 91 per cent national coverage, with more than 20 states and Union territories crossing the 95 per cent mark. Solid waste management stands at 87 per cent, while plastic waste management has achieved 70 per cent block-level coverage though concerns about functional sustainability remain. According to official data presented, 80 per cent of targeted villages have achieved ODF Plus Model status, while only 54 per cent have been verified. ODF Plus Model village has a sustained open defecation free status, has arrangements for solid waste management liquid waste management and observes visual cleanliness i.e., minimal litter, minimal stagnant wastewater, no plastic waste dump in public places and displays ODF related messages. The workshop, jointly organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and UNICEF India, brought together state mission directors, government officials, sector experts and development partners to assess the current status of rural sanitation and chart the path forward. Addressing the event, DDWS Secretary Ashok KK Meena said, "Sanitation is not just about infrastructure, it is about dignity, equity and sustainability. The next phase of SBM-G must continue to build on the collective momentum of the last decade and anchor local leadership in delivery." Two key technical publications were launched during the workshop: 'standard operating procedures for the safety and dignity of sanitation workers in rural India' and 'protocol for developing climate resilient sanitation technical designs and services'. UNICEF's chief of WASH and CCES, Karina Malczweska, stressed the importance of transitioning to climate-resilient and future-ready sanitation systems. Kamal Kishore Soan, Mission Director of SBM-G and Jal Jeevan Mission, called the workshop a platform for reflection and recalibration. "As climate risks intensify, integrating resilience into sanitation systems is no longer optional, it is essential," he said. A dedicated session led by Additional Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj highlighted the role of gram panchayats in sustaining sanitation outcomes. Over 2.5 lakh panchayats have prepared thematic development plans via the e-GramSwaraj platform and are monitoring progress using the Panchayat Advancement Index. Award-winning panchayats showcased best practices such as 100 per cent waste segregation, large-scale composting, and eco-friendly solutions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Only 54% of verified villages achieve 'ODF plus model' status despite 80% coverage: Govt review
While 80 per cent of villages targeted under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) are open defecation free and have solid and liquid waste managements systems in place, only 54 per cent are officially verified, a government review found. The data was presented at the National Rural Sanitation Workshop held in New Delhi on Wednesday. The review also showed that grey water management has reached 91 per cent national coverage, with more than 20 states and Union territories crossing the 95 per cent mark. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Solid waste management stands at 87 per cent, while plastic waste management has achieved 70 per cent block-level coverage though concerns about functional sustainability remain. According to official data presented, 80 per cent of targeted villages have achieved ODF Plus Model status, while only 54 per cent have been verified. Live Events ODF Plus Model village has a sustained open defecation free status, has arrangements for solid waste management liquid waste management and observes visual cleanliness i.e., minimal litter, minimal stagnant wastewater, no plastic waste dump in public places and displays ODF related messages. The workshop, jointly organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and UNICEF India , brought together state mission directors, government officials, sector experts and development partners to assess the current status of rural sanitation and chart the path forward. Addressing the event, DDWS Secretary Ashok KK Meena said, "Sanitation is not just about infrastructure, it is about dignity, equity and sustainability. The next phase of SBM-G must continue to build on the collective momentum of the last decade and anchor local leadership in delivery." Two key technical publications were launched during the workshop: 'standard operating procedures for the safety and dignity of sanitation workers in rural India' and 'protocol for developing climate resilient sanitation technical designs and services'. UNICEF's chief of WASH and CCES, Karina Malczweska, stressed the importance of transitioning to climate-resilient and future-ready sanitation systems. Kamal Kishore Soan, Mission Director of SBM-G and Jal Jeevan Mission, called the workshop a platform for reflection and recalibration. "As climate risks intensify, integrating resilience into sanitation systems is no longer optional, it is essential," he said. A dedicated session led by Additional Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj highlighted the role of gram panchayats in sustaining sanitation outcomes. Over 2.5 lakh panchayats have prepared thematic development plans via the e-GramSwaraj platform and are monitoring progress using the Panchayat Advancement Index. Award-winning panchayats showcased best practices such as 100 per cent waste segregation, large-scale composting, and eco-friendly solutions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
Only 54% villages verified as 'ODF plus model' despite 80% coverage: Govt
While 80 per cent of villages targeted under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) are open defecation free and have solid and liquid waste managements systems in place, only 54 per cent are officially verified, a government review found. The data was presented at the National Rural Sanitation Workshop held in New Delhi on Wednesday. The review also showed that grey water management has reached 91 per cent national coverage, with more than 20 states and Union territories crossing the 95 per cent mark. Solid waste management stands at 87 per cent, while plastic waste management has achieved 70 per cent block-level coverage though concerns about functional sustainability remain. According to official data presented, 80 per cent of targeted villages have achieved ODF Plus Model status, while only 54 per cent have been verified. ODF Plus Model village has a sustained open defecation free status, has arrangements for solid waste management liquid waste management and observes visual cleanliness i.e., minimal litter, minimal stagnant wastewater, no plastic waste dump in public places and displays ODF related messages. The workshop, jointly organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and UNICEF India, brought together state mission directors, government officials, sector experts and development partners to assess the current status of rural sanitation and chart the path forward. Addressing the event, DDWS Secretary Ashok KK Meena said, "Sanitation is not just about infrastructure, it is about dignity, equity and sustainability. The next phase of SBM-G must continue to build on the collective momentum of the last decade and anchor local leadership in delivery." Two key technical publications were launched during the workshop: 'standard operating procedures for the safety and dignity of sanitation workers in rural India' and 'protocol for developing climate resilient sanitation technical designs and services'. UNICEF's chief of WASH and CCES, Karina Malczweska, stressed the importance of transitioning to climate-resilient and future-ready sanitation systems. Kamal Kishore Soan, Mission Director of SBM-G and Jal Jeevan Mission, called the workshop a platform for reflection and recalibration. "As climate risks intensify, integrating resilience into sanitation systems is no longer optional, it is essential," he said. A dedicated session led by Additional Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj highlighted the role of gram panchayats in sustaining sanitation outcomes. Over 2.5 lakh panchayats have prepared thematic development plans via the e-GramSwaraj platform and are monitoring progress using the Panchayat Advancement Index. Award-winning panchayats showcased best practices such as 100 per cent waste segregation, large-scale composting, and eco-friendly solutions. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Digital revolution in remote tribal village: Maharashtra's Rohini becomes model gram panchayat
By Anjali Ojha Dhule: In the quiet, remote tribal-majority village of Rohini, tucked away at the foothills of Satpura in Maharashtra's Dhule district, the rugged terrain stood as a barrier to basic services, but a silent digital revolution is transforming lives and bridging the gap. "Using technology here for us was not an option, it was an opportunity," Chief Executive Officer of the Jila Parishad, Dhule, Vishal Narwade, said. Mobile internet and e-governance applications have made essential services such as healthcare, education and finance increasingly accessible to residents while also empowering them through digital democracy at the grassroots level. The gram panchayat was recently awarded the gold medal in a first-of-its-kind award for 'Grassroots level initiatives for deepening service delivery at gram panchayats or equivalent traditional local bodies' for its exemplary digital initiatives. With the population scattered in hamlets, access to services was always a challenge. The gram panchayat is now using information and communication technology not just to provide amenities and disseminate information but to also enable the locals to join Gram Sabha meetings virtually. Narwade said while only 45% of the local tribals are literate according to the last census figures, digital literacy is at 100%. "We informed the locals, held meetings of the Gram Sabha, made the locals aware, and convinced them that digital technology can help as they are struggling for physical connectivity. "Education, health, Anganwadi - technology is being used everywhere to ensure delivery," Narwade told PTI. "Any model will be successful only with local participation. We used government platforms and we developed a website through which one can access all services sitting at home," he said. Narwade said a website was developed for the panchayat by a local youth, who has also taken the responsibility to maintain it. "You will see a smartphone in everyone's hand. They already knew how to use smartphones, we just trained them how to use government and panchayat websites and apps to make their lives easier," he said. "We ensured that they don't need to come physically to the Gram Panchayat for small things - like if they need any certificate - birth, death, or marriage certificate, they can get it online," he said. Besides the local panchayat's website, government websites like the Meri Panchayat app, and digital platforms like e-Gram Swaraj, and Panchayat Nirnay App are among those being used. Narwade said when the Gram Sabha meeting is called, those who cannot join the meeting physically can join it online, ensuring more people's participation in decision-making. The journey was not easy though. In this remote area with hilly terrain, the internet was not always available. The gram panchayat has seven hamlets with scattered population of 7200. Deputy Sarpanch of the village Vasant Pawda said local demand for better internet connectivity grew louder, with some even suggesting boycott of elections at one point. They reached out to telecom companies, and the government departments, eventually leading to telecom infrastructure seeing improvement. Mobile phones are also being used to enable access to telemedicine facilities for locals. "The population here is scattered and doctors can't go there every time. So the health workers here, ASHA and ANMs, visit local homes and they connect them to doctors," said Dr Rashtrapal Ahire, Medical Officer, PHC, Rohini. If locals have an issue with mobile connectivity, the volunteers use their own mobile phones to connect them to the doctors, and also provide them medicines, he said. Tele-medicine facilities are also available for cattle, who are tagged and their information digitised in a database making it easier to track the animal for vaccination and monitoring. The village Anganwadi is also leveraging on government's platforms like the Poshan Tracker app, and a dashboard at the Anganwadi centre helps in monitoring progress. Vasant Pawda, deputy sarpanch of the village, said they aim to become a global model for digital democracy at the grassroots level. He said they aim to have a Single Digital Window for the village for all programmes and digital inclusion of every citizen. "With scattered population, remote villages, and migrant worker population, access to services was an issue, which could be resolved due to internet. Now we aim to have one window through which all services and information can be accessed," Pawda said. Rohini is a gram panchayat under Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, (PESA) with over 80% tribal population. It is located at the foothills of Satpura Hills at the interstate border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, around 85 km away from the district headquarters. PTI>
