Andaman and Nicobar Islands declared India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh

Tags: National State News National News

The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat  has declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India's first Swachh Sujal Pradesh, by handing over the certificate to the Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• All  villages of Andaman and Nicobar Island have been certified as Har Ghar Jal and  also verified as open defecation free - ODF plus.

• In order to be certified as a Swachh Sujal Pradesh, the State or the Union Territory has to be certified Har Ghar Jal as well shall be open defecation free.

• Certified Har Ghar Jal means that the Gram sabha of every village in the state or  the Union Territory has to pass a resolution  certifying that all households in the villages have access to safe drinking water through taps.

• The villages also have to confirm through a resolution of the Gram Sabha, that every household is getting regular supply of water of prescribed quality and not a single household is left out. 

• They  have to also  confirm that all schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions are also getting tap water.

Open Defecation Free (ODF) :

• 'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that are using toilets instead of open defecation.

• A village that maintains Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean is called "ODF Plus Village".

• Toilet facilities should be ensured in all households, primary schools, panchayat houses and Anganwadi centres in these villages.

• At least 80% of households should manage their solid and liquid waste effectively and have minimum litter and minimum stagnant water.

• ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories -Aspiring, Rising and Model.

Note : 

• Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh is the first certified Har Ghar Jal District in India.

• Goa is the first state to be certified as Har Ghar Jal state.

• Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are the first Har Ghar Jal certified Union Territory(UT) in the country.