Nearly 58,000 members of women self-help groups (SHG) will be entrusted with the management of community toilets constructed in all gram panchayats in Uttar Pradesh. In order to do so, they will be paid Rs 6,000 per month by the government and as yet, 6,000 women from these SHGs have already been given work at many community toilets in the state.
Plans to construct 58,000 community toilets in the gram panchayats
According to a government spokesman, under the tag of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, the state government plans to construct 58,000 community toilets in the gram panchayats. As per reports, an amount of 3 lakh rupees has been kept aside for the construction of a community toilet, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Rural 2). In many districts, large community toilets with better facilities are also coming up. Women who are employed at these toilets, will be given PPE kits, gloves, and disinfectants and so on, twice a year.
Panchayati Raj Department Additional Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh, stated that their efforts are aimed at completing the construction of toilets in every gram panchayat, by March 2021. He added, “As the construction is completed, employment will be provided to more women from the self-help groups. We are also conducting third-party verification of toilets that have been completed. Quality of construction etc will be examined in this process.”
Expenses chalked out by the State Government
The state government has chalked an expense plan where Rs 9,000 per month, will be allotted for the maintenance of the community toilets and the cleanliness workers, will take up the duty of cleaning them, at least twice a day. A sum of Rs 500 per month will also be given, for the repair of electricity, plumbing, taps and for cleaning equipment like broom, brushes, wipers, sponges, clothes, mops, buckets, mugs and so on.
Further, once in six months, Rs 1,000 will be given for the purchase of disinfectant material, soaps, washing powder, air fresheners, masks, gloves, and aprons. To take care of utility charges, Rs 1,000 per month will be granted to meet the expenses related to water, electricity and solid waste management, apart from Rs 300 per month, for other expenses.
