Cabinet Secretary launches Swachhata Action Plan

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Nearly Rs 16.5 thousand crore has been earmarked by 71 Ministries / Departments of Government of  India to take up swachhata activities within their own spheres during 2018-19.

This is over and above the budget of Ministries in-charge of sanitation in the country, i.e. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). The Swachhata Action Plan (SAP) 2018-19 was launched by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha in New Delhi on May 11, 2018, at a meeting of Union Secretaries and senior officials. The SAP Compendium 2018-19 was also released on this occasion. Several Ministries are in the process of increasing their commitment of funds, according to a PIB release.

Swachhata Action Plan (SAP) is a part of PM Narendra Modi’s vision that Swachhata has to be everyone’s business for the nation to realize its collective vision of a Clean India. This inter-ministerial collaborative project commenced in April 2017 whereby Ministries and Departments were advised to go beyond business as usual and implement innovative and outcome-based Swachhata activities.

The Committee of Secretaries led by the Cabinet Secretary on May 11 reviewed the implementation of SAP 2017-18 by Union Ministries/Departments. During the last year, Union Ministries had allocated over Rs 18 thousand crore. At the review, the Cabinet Secretary underlined that efforts under SAP need to be sustained by the respective Ministries. The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that all Secretaries need to personally monitor implementation of SAP on a regular basis.