Weekly ‘Swachhta Utsav’ Drives Momentum for Clean Villages Across Rajnandgaon; Fines Imposed for Lapses
Published on: June 09, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
In a determined push under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the district of Rajnandgaon is witnessing weekly “Swachhta Utsav” celebrations every Saturday across its rural belts. The latest drive saw Zila Panchayat CEO, Ms. Suruchi Singh, conducting on-ground inspections of several declared ODF Plus Model Villages including Barga, Kirgi-B, Torankatta, and Manki.

During her visit to Manki village, Ms. Singh encouraged residents to construct soak pits in every household to effectively manage grey water disposal. Addressing the significance of grassroots participation in sanitation, she remarked that “Cleanliness is not a one-day festival, but the result of continuous public involvement.”
The CEO reviewed the construction of the segregation shed and instructed that the work be completed without further delay. Additionally, she took part in the “One Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign by planting a sapling near the Gram Panchayat Bhawan in Manki.

At Torankatta, Ms. Singh expressed displeasure over irregular garbage collection and waste found along the roadside. As a result, the Panchayat Secretary was fined ₹250 for negligence in maintaining village hygiene. She also directed that the under-construction Grey Water Treatment Plant be completed within a week.
Similarly, in her visit to Barga, she conveyed her dissatisfaction over delays in the construction of the Grey Water Treatment Plant and set a deadline of ten days for its completion. She emphasized that all essential components for the village’s development as an ideal ODF Plus Model Village must be fulfilled at the earliest.

In Kirgi-B, the CEO conducted a village-level meeting with residents and sanitation workers. She underlined the importance of comprehensive sanitation, water conservation, and the necessity of having a soak pit in every household. The village has been envisioned to serve as a block-level model in terms of cleanliness and sustainable rural development.
The inspection was attended by sarpanches, panchayat secretaries, officials from the district and Janpad panchayats, sanitation workers, and villagers. The Zila Panchayat continues to stress community participation and infrastructural readiness as key drivers for ensuring lasting hygiene in rural regions.
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