SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, on Monday inaugurated a two-day refresher training program for master trainers on the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) Phase II at Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (JKIMPARD) here.
Director General Rural Sanitation, Anu Malhotra, Superintending Engineer REW Kashmir, Er. Aamir Ali, Deputy Director Rural Sanitation, Sana Khan, master trainers, and other officers attended the workshop. The program is aimed to enhance trainers' skills and knowledge for effective SBM-G Phase II implementation through interactive sessions, discussions, and practical exercises.
While addressing a gathering, Dr Shahid emphasized the importance of behavioural change for achieving sustainable sanitation in Kashmir. He highlighted the need to move beyond infrastructure development and focus on altering people's attitudes towards sanitation. Secretary also emphasized that while toilets and common facilities have been constructed, achieving true Open Defecation Free (ODF) status requires a shift in mindset.
He outlined three key components for successful implementation: adequate government infrastructure, well-trained departmental staff, and active community participation. Dr Shahid stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach, involving government, trained staff, and community participation to achieve sustainable sanitation.
He urged participants to focus on identifying infrastructure shortcomings and capacity-building needs, emphasizing the importance of effective training and community engagement. Secretary emphasized the importance of long-term and impactful work, rather than short-term cosmetic efforts.
He called for a collaborative approach between government officials and the community to achieve the desired outcomes. Director General Rural Sanitation, Anu Malhotra emphasized the crucial role of comprehensive training in achieving the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission-G.
She highlighted the progress made in J&K, noting that it has achieved the status of ODF (Open Defecation Free) Model Plus. However, Malhotra pointed out existing gaps that need to be addressed to ensure sustainability. Anu Malhotra said that this refresher course is not just about learning; it's about implementing what you've learned on the ground.
DG Rural Sanitation outlined the steps needed to make the Swachh Bharat program sustainable, stressing the importance of self-sustaining business models. She also encouraged participants to visit successful projects such as the Baltal Base Camp to learn from their waste processing and composting models.
She urged the trainees to take full interest in the training, become role models, and ensure that the revenue spent is used effectively. Laxmikant Shinde, a Resource Person from PriMove Mumbai, gave a detailed presentation on participant introductions, participant expectations, and training overview, including objectives, ground rules, and the pre-training evaluation questionnaire.
Other trainers gave presentations on various topics including an introduction to SBM (G) II – the concept of ODF Plus villages and its declaration criteria, biodegradable waste management – village level planning, implementation, and technology options, GOBAR-DHAN – technology, process, and O&M, and plastic waste management – technology options and rollout. The program was also attended by ACP Srinagar, Altaf Hussain, Dr. Shafia Wani, a faculty member at IMPARD and others.
