One of the flagship projects recently launched by Govt. of India for improving quality of life in cities is Swachh Bharat Abhijan (Urban) Indian's urban population, as per Census 2011, is 377 million i.e. 31% of total population and this figure is likely to increase to 600 million by 2031. In 4041 statutory towns, close to eight million household do not have access to toilets and residents in these households defecate in the open. Untreated waste thus generated is the single biggest source of pollution of water resources.
"Swachh Bharat Mission" was therefore launched on 2nd October, 2014 for ensuring hygiene, waste management and sanitation across the nation. Two main objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) are elimination of open defecation by construction of individual toilets, public toilets and community toilets, and eradication of manual scavenging by and scientific solid waste management.
Two key strategies under SBM (Urban) are to generate awareness about sanitation and its likeage with public health, hygiene and environment and to effect behavioural change regarding healthy sanitation practices. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign has to be carried out more extensively for the purpose, so that target set up by SBM for achievement by Oct. 2, 2019, which is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, is reached.
This issue of the journal contains eight assorted articles in addition to usual features like "Notes and News", "Our Members", etc.
While thanking our learned authors for their valuable contributions, we would request the authors of pending articles to bear with us for some more time.
May I request the learned reader to offer their valuable suggestion for improving various features of the journal.
Editor, JIPHE
0 comments :