By V. Ganapathy
BORDA Partner – ExNoRa International
The active participation of the Presidents, Executive officers, Sanitary Inspectors and District officials in the 3 DESWAM workshops organised by ExNoRa International in Kulithalai, Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam, have brought out the distinct need for social preparation and community mobilisation for successful implementation of the SWM programmes. One of the main reasons for the workshops was the request from these District heads to motivate leaders of the local governments to realise the growing menace and health hazards caused by the rapidly increasing garbage disposal problem. The local bodies were unable to ensure clean and healthy streets, roads and drains in their areas, which were resented by the general public.
On their part, the State Government was keen to implement the MSWM Rules 2000 and allocate sufficient funds to local governments. Some local governments acted to create the necessary infrastructure utilizing the funds but found it difficult to sustain them due to limited people’s participation. It is in this context that the critical role played by social mobilization and participatory methods of implementing the programme advocated by the ExNoRa, was appreciated by the Government heads. Accordingly, Collectors of the 3 Districts requested ExNoRa to organize workshops for elected representatives and officials of local governments. Each of the workshops also included an exposure visit to successful implementation and best practices adopted by a few Town Panchayats in the region.
The process and case study presentations on successfully implemented programmes using government grants showed that associating the local communities with the SWM from planning stage in a participatory manner, had a good impact. The feedback from residents and officials of successful SWM projects was an eye opener and a motivating factor for the participants. Following the programme, Executive Officers of Manja Thidal Panchayat in Thiruchirapalli District, Keevelur Town Panchayat in Nagapattinam District and Kannivadi Town Panchayat in Dindigul district, approached ExNoRa International to guide and support them to streamline and improve SWM operations in their local governments. The Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Chenglepet has requested for social preparation in the 3 Municipalities of Alandur, Pallavaram and Tambaram.
It was interesting to note that the Manja Thidal Panchayat won the Nirmal Gram Puraskar award last year and wishes to use the award for implementation of SWM as per the guidelines prescribed by the Government of India.
Apart from the above, a marriage hall in Trichy City has requested ExNoRa to provide guidance to implement good SWM practices like alternatives to plastics, disposables and composting of the vegetable and food waste generated during functions.
Increased awareness of simple and effective methods of social mobilisation is a critical input for implementation of DESWAM in a participatory manner. Thanks to the workshops which have motivated several local governments (Panchayats, Town Panchayats and Municipalities) to initiate concrete action for making their towns more hygienic and healthy with the support announced by the Government some time ago.
