BANDIPORA, JULY 31: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, Friday chaired the district-level convention marking the formal launch of the “Swachhta 50-50” initiative, a flagship campaign of the District Administration based on the principle of 50% Government and 50% Public participation for effective and sustainable solid waste management across the district, at the Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat Bandipora.
The convention, as per an official statement, witnessed participation of Additional District Development Commissioner Bandipora, Nazir Ahmad Mir; PO ICDS Bandipora, Yaar Ali Khan; ACP Bandipora, Aijaz Ahmad; Chief Education Officer Bandipora; District Information Officer; Block Development Officers, and other stakeholders.
The programme commenced with the National Anthem, followed by the Swachhta Pledge, which was administered by the students of Government Higher Secondary School Quilmuqam.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner said that Swachhta 50-50 is a people’s movement based on shared responsibility and called upon every stakeholder to work wholeheartedly to make the initiative a success. She said that the District Administration had already taken three major steps towards scientific waste management and that Swachhta 50-50 marked the fourth step in this direction.
Highlighting the implementation strategy, the Deputy Commissioner announced that after a one-month handholding period, Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) would be required to scientifically manage their own waste in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, while the District Administration would continue to provide all necessary technical support and guidance. She said that 89 identified BWGs in the district account for a major share of waste generation and would be brought under this mechanism.
She further informed that exhibitions would be organised to demonstrate scientific waste management practices and clarified that any issues relating to implementation in rural areas would be addressed through the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, while concerns in urban areas would be handled by the concerned Municipal Committees.
The Deputy Commissioner also informed that the District Administration had successfully conducted an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative in Gurez, where 11 companies participated. Of these, three companies accepted the proposals, while the remaining companies were closely monitoring the district’s waste management efforts and were expected to take a decision in the coming weeks. She reiterated that the responsibility for collection and disposal of single-use plastic (SUP) rests with the producers under the EPR framework.
She said that a dedicated coordination group had been constituted to ensure sustained implementation of the initiative and informed that the District Administration had also developed the dedicated portal Swachhta 50-50 in for monitoring and management of the programme.
Emphasising the role of institutions, the Deputy Commissioner said that every school and every Anganwadi Centre would adopt 50 households on a long-term basis. She said that students would sensitise their parents while teachers would certify installation of separate dustbins in their own households, setting an example for the community. She also stressed the need for greater participation of male members of society in household waste management.
The Deputy Commissioner identified four key household responsibilities under the initiative, including installation of separate dustbins for source segregation, home composting of wet waste, payment of user fee and adoption of cloth bags to eliminate the use of single-use plastic.
