Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Jal Shakti Minister declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s First Swachh Sujal Pradesh. An essential component of Sujal and Swachh is the management and supply of safe and secure drinking water. All the villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with this achievement, have received the Har Ghar Jal certification. Along with this they also have been verified as ODF (open defecation free) and ODF Plus.
India’s First Swachh Sujal Pradesh
Andaman and Nicobar islands were awarded as India’s First Swachh Sujal Pradesh. This union territory of India ticked off all the key points of being Swachh and Sujal. The Indian states and union territories must draw inspiration from the distant Andaman and Nicobar Islands located far from the country’s mainland. There are 266 villages and 62,000 rural households and 9 blocks distributed among the 3 districts. The Union territory made sure that all the 368 schools, 558 Anganwadi centres, and 292 public institution centres received piped water. On World water day, the islands announced that all rural households have tap water connection and became the third state/UT in India to achieve it.
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Swachh And Sujal Key Components
This union territory of India, Andaman and Nicobar islands ticked off all the key points of being Swachh and Sujal. Here are the key components which have to be ticked off for a state to become Swachh and Sujal:
1. Every household in every village should have access to clean drinking water from the tap.
2. Every household in every village should receive regular water supply of prescribed quality.
3. All schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions too should receive tap water.
4. Villages that use toilets instead of open defecation are known as “open defecation free” (ODF) areas.
5. A village is referred to as a “ODF Plus Village” if it keeps its Open Defecation Free (ODF) designation, assures the management of solid and liquid waste, and is clean.
6. The three categories of ODF Plus villages are Aspiring, Rising, and Model.
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It’s high time that we too start contributing in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by taking inspiration from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/ Swachh Bharat Grameen