Chief Secretary Urges Swift Completion of ODF+ Mission for All Villages in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, June 16: The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, has called for intensified efforts to declare all habitations in the region as Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) by the end of this month. During a meeting to review the progress of the Swachhta Mission in the union territory, Dr. Mehta emphasized the importance of meeting the deadline, stating that the necessary funds have already been allocated to the department.

The meeting, attended by the Commissioner Secretary of Rural Development Department (RDD), the Director of Rural Sanitation, and other concerned officers, also included the participation of Jammu-based officers via video conferencing.

Dr. Mehta inquired about the status of door-to-door waste collection in each village and stressed the importance of proper waste segregation and disposal. He urged officials to raise awareness among the public about maintaining cleanliness and penalize those who litter and contribute to environmental degradation.

Highlighting the significance of cleanliness, the Chief Secretary emphasized that everyone has a role to play, starting from individuals to their immediate surroundings. While acknowledging the progress made in improving village cleanliness, he urged the department to continue their efforts until every village in Jammu and Kashmir is declared clean and hygienic.

Dr. Mehta also sought updates on the construction of segregation sheds, provision of compost and soak pits, drainage facilities, and waste disposal in villages. He stressed the need to implement effective plans for managing plastic waste, which often poses unhygienic conditions in the region.

The Commissioner Secretary of RDD informed the meeting that out of 7,163 villages, 6,384 villages have already achieved ODF+ status, covering 87% of the villages in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasized the goal of transforming every village into a model category village in the coming months, highlighting the importance of creating necessary infrastructure in each Panchayat.

During the meeting, the Director of Rural Sanitation presented an overview of the current initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen in the UT. He highlighted the ongoing door-to-door waste collection in every village and the formulation of Solid Waste Management plans and bye-laws for advisory committees’ enforcement and monitoring.

It was reported that an agency for solid waste collection has been identified in all districts, along with a financial model for sustainability. District Sanitation Committees have been formed, and over 80,000 kilograms of legacy waste have been cleared so far. Additionally, the Swachhta Karwan initiative has reached approximately 1,000 villages and engaged with around 500,000 individuals.

Furthermore, thousands of community compost pits, segregation sheds, soak pits, drainage facilities, and greywater management systems have been established throughout Jammu and Kashmir to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene.

The concerted efforts aim to achieve comprehensive cleanliness and hygiene across the region, bringing every village under the ODF+ status.