Port Blair, Feb 17: The Director (RD/Panchayat), Shri. Vinay Kumar Jindal held a brief discussion with the representatives of 18 NGOs/Civil Societies of A&N Islands on the activities currently being carried out by the Department of Rural Development and how to partner with NGOs for effective solid waste management and waste segregation.

Emphasizing on the importance of source segregation and to inculcate the practice of source segregation among the rural population, the Director (RD) invited suggestions from the representative of the NGOs who were present in the meeting.

The representatives of NGOs put forth various suggestions which were reviewed and it was decided that the NGOs will adopt certain rural areas, where they will be collaborating with the RD Department by conducting weekly cleanliness drives, IEC activities like Nukkad Nataks, banners and hoarding etc. The Director (RD) assured all possible assistance to the NGO volunteers for conducting the cleanliness drive will be provide by the concerned Gram Panchayat and the Department of Rural Development & Panchayat.

The Director exhorted the participants to inculcate behavior change in the society and make Swacchhta, a Mass Movement so that we are able to achieve #ZeroWasteIslands.