Lt. Governor Congratulates Isles Citizens and PRIs for Achieving this Feat
Port Blair, Oct. 3: It was a proud moment for the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands when the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India in a national function held on the occasion of Swachh Bharat Diwas commemorating the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October, 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi declared the UT of A&N Islands as the first ranked UT under Swachh Survekshan Grameen in the Smaller States/UTs category. The award was conferred by Hon'ble President of India, Smti. Draupadi Murmu yesterday. Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration along with Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Secretary (RD/Panchayat) received the award. The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj , Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Tribal Affairs, Shri Bishweswar Tudu and Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Ms. Vini Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation were also present .
Along with this award, South Andaman District was also conferred as the 1st ranked district under Swachh Survekshan Grameen in the category of overall top district in the Union Territory category leaving behind Diu district in the second position and Daman district in the third position. The award was presented by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and was received by Shri Suneel Anchipaka, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman.
The Swachh Survekshan Grameen is an initiative of the Govt. of India to rank State and Districts of India on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation (Swachhta) parameters. UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has made a quantum jump in the ranking from 7th position in the SSG- 2019 to 1st position leaving behind Dadra Nagar Haveli – Daman Diu in the second and Sikkim in the third position. The Ministry has commended the efforts of UT Administration and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 3.25 Crore as award money.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands has congratulated the entire citizens and PRIs of A&N Islands in achievement of this great feat and has exhorted for dedicated efforts towards further improvement in the waste management practices in the Islands, a press release from Directorate of RD/Panchayat said.