Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development, Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash today inaugurated a three day training programme on Urban Solid Waste Management and Disposal here at IMPARD Jammu.The participants included officers/ officials of JMC, Tourism, Education, Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education and representatives of NGOs.Addressing the participants, the Minister said there is imminent need to focus on the cleanliness in urban and rural areas and the disposal of solid waste poses biggest challenge to the state. She asked all departments to join hands to meet this challenge, adding “Indicators show that our state lags far behind from the rest of the country when it comes to waste management. She listed various initiatives taken by centre and state government for the urban solid waste management and disposal, including the flagship Clean India Campaign.The Minister said that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan puts focus on awareness and aims to ensure 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of solid waste. She focussed on urgent need for training health and sanitation. She called for laying focus on systematic collection of waste from public places, Hotels, Restaurants, office complexes and residential areas.Vice Chairman and Director General, Pramod Jain, in his welcome address focussed on role of IMPARD in Swatch Bharat Mission and Urban Waste Management and Disposal. He called for active participation of each department in the training programmes.Manju Kapoor, Course Coordinator briefed participants about the training programme. She focussed on clean India, Green India Mission and need for Urban Solid Waste Management.Reva Sharma, Director Trainings (Jammu) presented vote of thanks.