100 days ‘SUJALAM’ Campaign begins

100 days ‘SUJALAM’ Campaign begins

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II- Policies and interventions 

In news The Ministry of Jal Shakti began ‘SUJALAM’, a ‘100 days campaign’ as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.

About the initiative

• Objective: To create more and more ODF (Open Defecation Free) Plus villages by undertaking waste water management at village level particularly through creation of 1 million Soak-pits and also other Grey water management activities. 
  • Waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances is known as grey water.
• The effort of the campaign would be directed towards achieving the ODF plus status for villages across the country in an accelerated manner in a short time.
  • ODF: At any point of the day, not even a single person is found defecating in the open.
  • ODF+: At any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in the open, and all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained.
  • ODF++: If the area is already ODF+ and the faecal sludge/septage and sewage are safely managed and treated
• The campaign will also aid in sustainable management of water bodies. 
• Significance and benefits: The disposal of waste water and clogging of waterbodies in the villages or on the outskirts of the villages remain one of the major problems. 
  • The Campaign would help in management of the wastewater and in turn would help to revive the water bodies.
  • Furthermore, the campaign would boost the momentum of SBMG (Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin) phase II activities through community participation and it will increase awareness about ODF-plus activities. Hence ensuring long term maintenance and sustainability of built infrastructure.
• The key activities that will be organised in the villages under this campaign include:

• • Organizing Community consultations, Khuli Baithaks and Gram Sabha meetings to analyze the current situation
  • Pass resolution to maintain ODF sustainability and achieve needed number of soak pits to manage the grey water
  • Develop a 100 days’ plan to undertake sustainability and soak pit construction related activities
  • Construct requisite number of soak pits
  • Retrofit toilets where needed through IEC and community mobilization and
  • Ensure all newly emerging Households in the village have access to toilets.

News Source: PIB