RWAs across the country roped in for cleanliness drive

NEW DELHI, December 24: Urban Development Ministry has reached out to resident welfare associations across the country to seek assistance in cleanliness campaign and demonstrate best practices in solid waste management under Swachh Bharat drive. Ministry plans to recognise the best initiatives undertaken by various RWAs, to establish systems of waste segregation and waste management initiatives, in order to curtail the much problematic solid waste management situation in the country. There are a total of 8,360 tons per day (TPD) municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Delhi alone. The ministry has received 32 RWA nominations from different Municipal Commissioners across the country for demonstrating best practices in solid waste management under the Swachh Bharat drive, according to a release. Ministry will felicitate the nominated RWA for the work undertaken by them to make their societies waste and garbage free in their respective capacities. The ministry believes such a move would encourage other RWAs around the country to pick up similar initiatives in their own areas, leading to a mass movement, the release said. As part of the ongoing (16th 31st December 2015) thematic drive undertaken by the ministry centering on Resident Welfare Associations under Swachh Bharat drive, the focus has been to encourage society administrators to educate their residents through cleanliness drives, anti-polythene drives and sanitation campaigns. Ministry aims to sensitise residents on responsible disposal of garbage in order to facilitate proper waste management, waste segregation and efficient waste processing through these drives. Representatives from the ministry sat down with different RWAs to find out issues around irresponsible littering and garbage management in societies, and collected opinions and suggestions from them to manage the same, it said. Additionally, repair work, maintenance and installation of public toilets for servants and drivers, installation of garbage bins and night sweeping have been undertaken widely across various societies. Several artists have also been put up to the task of painting on society walls to creatively spread the message of keeping houses and societies clean