Government launches Swachh Bharat Kosh
Government recently launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Kosh’- a fund that will be utilised to build toilets in schools, rural and urban areas to achieve the objective of cleanliness across the country.
It will seek to attract donations under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Corporate Sector and contributions from individuals and philanthropists to achieve the objective of Clean India (Swachh Bharat) by the year 2019.
Key facts about ‘Swachh Bharat Kosh’
- Objective: Funds will be used for improving cleanliness levels in rural and urban areas, including in schools. As a top priority, funds will be used to bring out innovative projects and girl toilets.
- Governing Council: It will be under the Ministry of Finance and will be managed by a Governing Council headed by Expenditure Secretary.
- Monitoring: Its functioning will be monitored on quarterly basis by the Finance Minister and by the Prime Minister from time-to-time.
- Activities:
Projects under it will be implemented and carried out by the existing institutions at the state, district, and sub district level and no new institutions would be created.
These funds will finance activities such as construction of new toilets as well as repair and renovation of dysfunctional toilets in rural areas, urban areas, elementary, secondary and senior secondary government schools, aanganwaadis.
It will be also used for constructing water lines to the toilets, training and skill development to maintain hygiene in the toilets as well as other activities to improve sanitation.
Prime Minister himself will acknowledge contributions of over Rs 1 crore made by individuals and of over Rs 20 crore by corporates.
Related Posts
Month: Current Affairs - November, 2014