NONGSTOIN: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD) launched a state-wide Sanitation Literacy Campaign at Mawroh under Mawthadraishan village in West Khasi Hills, on Friday which was the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The aim of the programme which was followed by a tree plantation was to emphasised the need for good hygiene, sanitation and sustaining behavioural change, both at the community and individual level due to the present COVID-19 situation.
Utpal Bezbaruah, District Development Manager of NABARD said, “NABARD has disbursed Rs 12,298 Crore under Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) resulting in construction of 3.29 Crore household toilets”.
He also clarified that any loan for social infrastructure, toilet repair, sanitation, drinking water availed by individuals and SHG members are eligible under Priority Sector and subsequently refinance by NABARD in Meghalaya.
NABARD has also launched a refinance scheme of Rs 800 Crore for FY21 for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH).
The Sanitation Literacy Campaign will support the government of India’s SBM-G and WASH programmes to enable the vulnerable rural communities to access better sanitation facilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A nation-wide Sanitation Literacy Campaign in more than 2000 villages will be conducted by NABARD starting from October 2 to January 26, 2021 and will develop a strategy to provide credit facilities including construction of household toilets.