District Development Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar today convened a meeting to review the progress under centrally sponsored schemes Swatch Bharat Mission & Saakshar Bharat Mission (SBM). The meeting discussed activities, programmes and IEC campaigns initiated by the Rural Development Department in collaboration with other departments under Swatch Bharat mission. The DC called for persistent information, education and communication activities to spread awareness among all stakeholders about the personal hygiene and cleanliness in surroundings. "The objective of Swachh Bharat Mission is to improve quality of life by promoting hygiene and eliminating open defecation," he added. He said government has set 2019 deadline to make the state free from open defecation. He stressed on the need for an attitudinal change among the people who are the major stakeholders in this noble task.The District Panchayat Officer apprised that Mandli will be the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) block of the District Kathua. He said a target of constructing 2624 toilets has been set to cover all households of block Mandli. .
The DC fixed the target of achieving ODF status at two panchayats in each block by the end of current financial year. He said the task of constructing IHHL units should be done on war footing. He also stressed for regular updation of MIS data on SBM portal.While taking review of 14th Financial Commission Plan of RDD department, the DC instructed all the BDOs to plan for constructing two playgrounds in their respective blocks. He also suggested for taking up works like street lights, transformers, boundary walls of Panchayat Ghars, metalling of roads etc. for improving amenities.The DC also reviewed programmes and activities taken up under Swatchhta Pakhwada and called for adhering to the calendar of activities rolled out by the government. He also directed all BDOs to organize block level painting competition on SBM of students from 6th to 12th standards. DDC informed that district administration is going to organize walkathon on 15th October at Kathua.
Later DDC also reviewed the progress made under Sakshar Bharat Mission and called for coordinated efforts of BDOs and ZEOs concerned for its effective implementation.Issues related to establishment of Adult Literacy Centres, teaching learning material, motivating volunteers to educate, proper displaying of hoardings at Adult Literacy Centres, BDO’s and ZEO’s to pay surprise visits at ALC’s were chiefly discussed in the meeting. The meeting was attended by CPO Kathua, ACD Kathua, DPO, CEO, BDOs and ZEOs of all the blocks.