The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, has accomplished a significant milestone as all villages in Jammu Kashmir have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus, according to a statement issued by DIPR Srinagar.
The attainment of 100 percent ODF Plus status is a remarkable achievement as it surpasses the mere construction and usage of toilets, extending to the management of both greywater and solid waste in each village.
The journey towards achieving a visually clean village with effective solid and liquid waste processing involves three stages: ODF Plus Aspiring, ODF Plus Rising, and ODF Plus Model.
A village is designated as ODF Aspiring when it possesses mechanisms to handle either solid or liquid waste, in addition to ODF sustainability.
It becomes ODF Rising when systems are in place to manage both solid and liquid waste. Finally, when a village has achieved a condition where it is visually clean, with minimal litter and stagnant water, and has adequate solid and liquid waste management along with active Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities, it is declared as an ODF Model.
Currently, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) has 4,473 ODF Plus Aspiring villages, 1,855 ODF Plus Rising villages, and 322 ODF Plus Model villages. All villages in the UT have now attained ODF Plus status.
To achieve the goal of ODF Plus in all villages, the Department has undertaken several initiatives. For greywater management, such as water generated from the kitchen and bathing, the department has developed soak pits, magic pits, and leach pits at the household and community levels. To date, the department has constructed 349,687 individual soak pits.
For the management of biodegradable waste, both individual and community compost pits have been constructed. The department, as well as individuals in their households, have constructed 115,502 compost pits. People are encouraged to segregate dry and wet waste and process wet waste in the compost pits.
The government launched GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio Agro Resources) through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation to improve the lives of villagers and ensure cleanliness in villages by converting bio-waste, including cattle waste, kitchen leftovers, crop residue, and market waste.
Two projects are already functional in Jammu Kashmir, and 18 more projects are in the final stages of completion.
Door-to-door waste collection has become prevalent in almost all panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir. Locals, NGOs, and expert agencies are involved in collecting and segregating waste from households, utilizing bailers, shredders, and other equipment for its final disposal.
At present, the segregated waste is managed through recyclers, rag pickers, and linkages with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). However, Public Waste Management Units (PWMUs) are being established in each district, with some nearing completion. These centers will clean, shred, and bail out plastic waste for its final disposal.
District Sanitation Committees, headed by respective Deputy Commissioners, have been constituted at the district level to formulate, implement, and monitor various aspects of the district and village cleanliness plans. IEC activities, door-to-door waste collection, and committee meetings are regularly held at the district level to discuss, monitor, and strategize for achieving cleanliness and sanitation in all villages.
To enhance the capacity of officers, village-level workers, and elected representatives in matters of sanitation, 1,641 capacity building programs have been conducted across 285 blocks in 20 districts at the panchayat level. A total of 401 trainers have been trained to provide information and orientations at the panchayat level.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is not merely a scheme for asset creation but a behavioral change program that every household in the UT must embrace for its success. The department has placed great emphasis on IEC activities, including paintings, banners, awareness programs, plog runs, and street plays, to bring about behavioral change among the masses. Innovative ideas such as Swachta Karwam, Swachta internships, and Swachta quizzes have been launched to foster participation.
The role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is pivotal in motivating people to understand the importance of cleanliness and contributing to the success of everyday activities like door-to-door waste collection.
While the achievement of ODF Plus status is significant, it represents only one step toward the challenging goal of making all villages visually clean with minimal litter and stagnant water. The department continues its efforts to ensure through IEC activities that people are motivated to participate in this “Jan Andolan” (people’s movement) and ensure the sustainability of these efforts.
With consistent endeavors and the support of the people, the department aims to achieve the goal of “Sampoorna Swachta” (Total Cleanliness) in each and every village of Jammu and Kashmir.