India, Himachal Pradesh: school sanitation reward scheme launched

The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh has launched the ‘School Sanitation Reward’ Scheme, under which, Government Primary and Middle Schools would get Block and District level prizes.

First cash prize would be of Rs 50,000 [US$ 1,100] at District level along-with a commendation certificate and momento at both Primary and Middle level while two prizes would be given at block level. First cash prize would be Rs 20,000 rupees [US$ 430] and second prize would be of Rs 10,000 [US$ 215] at block level for both school levels. Speaking at launch, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that this Rs 62 lakh [US$ 134,000] scheme was initiated to create competitiveness and awareness about sanitation amongst school children.

Mr. Thakur said Himachal Pradesh was one of few states where over 90 per cent achievement had been made in individual household latrines. He said the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), launched from District Sirmaur in the year 1999-2000 was now being implemented in all the 12 districts of the State. Mr Thakur said total plan expenditure of TSC is Rs 149.62 crore [US$ 32.4 million] of which Central Government’s share is Rs. 99.48 crore [US$ 21.5 million] , the State share is Rs 37.70 crore [US$ 8.15 million] while the beneficiary share is Rs 12.43 crore [US$ 2.7 million].

Rs 35.23 crore [US$ 7.6 million] had been spent till 30th November 2009 under TSC, he added.

He said the Central Government had fixed the target of achieving Total Sanitation by the year 2012 but the State Government had made it 2010 to declare Himachal Pradesh a Nirmal State. Two new schemes namely ‘Maharishi Balmiki Sampuran Swatchhta Yojna’ and ‘Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojna’ launched in the year 2008, had geared up the sanitation programme in the hill state. The Rural Development Minister said the School Sanitation Reward Scheme would be implemented by the Rural Development Department and Education Department while the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP South Asia) would provide the support. He said State had made steady progress during last few years in sanitation as there was nil Niramal Gram Purskar in 2005 and 22 panchayats had got it in 2006-07 and this figure rose to 245 in the year 2007-08 while it reached to 267 in the year 2008-09. Principal Secretary, Education P.C. Dhiman said about 70 percent Government Schools have toilet facilities.

Read full details of the “Reward Scheme for the Cleanest Primary and Middle schools in Himachal Pradesh at Block and District Level under the Total Sanitation Campaign”.

Source: UNI / WebIndia123.com, 03 Dec 2009 / Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, 03 Dec 2009