SIKKIM ACHIEVED 100% SANITATION

Sikkim becomes only Indian state to
 achieve 100% sanitation

Sikkim has become the only state in the country to achieve 100 percent sanitation in rural and urban households, schools, sanitary complexes and Aanganwadi centres. All 6,10,577 inhabitants in Sikkim have latrines with high sanitation and hygiene standards. The Himalayan state has constructed 98,043 individual household latrines against the target of 87,014 till January, thus achieving 112.67 percent of its target under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan scheme implemented by the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, an official release said. In many areas, the concerned districts had exceeded their targets: Reuters The state has also sensitised people to adopt a holistic approach to improve sanitation and hygiene in a clean environment while accelerating its overall development. A total of 1,772 schools have been covered under the total sanitation programme as against the target of 1,604 schools, thus achieving 110.47 percent of its goal. Altogether 1,105 sanitary complexes were constructed as against the target of 789. Also, a 151.76 percent target was achieved with a total of 516 Anganwadi toilets constructed in the state as against the target of 340. The initiative to achieving full sanitation in 7,096 sq km area of the state covering both rural and urban areas in all four districts was launched in 1999 by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. It has been made mandatory for all gram sabhas to take up sanitation as a top priority on their agenda. So far, 163 panchayats in the state have been conferred monetary rewards 'Nirmal Gram Puruskar' for developing sufficient sanitation facilities of adequate quality in their respective areas. According to a survey conducted in 20 gram panchayats by Planning Commission, 17 village councils of Sikkim were declared as 'best performance panchayats', which is highest in the country. Sikkim also topped the list among all states of the country in net performance indicators.

Prof. John Kurakar