Pics: Meryick D'Silva

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, May 6: Mangaluru corporation commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati held a press meet at the MCC conference hall on May 6 in the city.

 Addressing the press meet Korlapati said, "Swachh Bharat mission week will be observed from May 4 to 8 where about 120 volunteers of Swachh Bharat mission will conduct the survey and add the details in the website. All the urban local bodies have been given target to finish it by May 8. The Swachh Bharat mission has the aim of providing nine lac toilets by 2019. Our target is to provide individual household toilets and too do the survey to see whether the existing toilets are the functioning properly or not."

"There will be no discrimination, all the beneficiaries will be provided with the benefits as per the Swachh Bharat Mission. Every household will be given Rs 4,000 for toilet construction from central government and state will provide minimum of Rs 1,330 to every household. The application will be given to beneficiaries after the survey. One help desk will be available at MCC office. There will also be construction of community toilets, which require minimum of 25 women or men in one area and total cost of the construction should not be more than Rs 65,000 and central will provide 60% and state will bear 40% of the cost. This is a very good scheme and all the beneficiaries must utilize this." She added..

"The applicant must provide two photos, electricity bill, Adhaar card and bank details. The money will be transfered directly to the beneficiary's bank account in two phases. We will also monitor whether the money provided is used for the toilet construction in every household or not. As per the latest survey in MCC limits, only 150 houses require the toilets. We seek the co-operation of the citizens during the survey."She concluded.

 Objectives Swachh Bharat mission are:

*Elimination of open defecation.

*Eradication of Manual Scavenging.

*Modern and Scientific Municipal Solid Waste Management.

*To effect behavioral change regarding healthy sanitation practices.

*Generate awareness about sanitation and its linkage with public health.

*Capacity Augmentation for ULBs.

*To create an enabling environment for private sector participation in Capex (capital expenditure) and Opex (operation and maintenance).

Gokuldas Nayak, deputy commissioner of MCC was present the press meet.