Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has observed the Pakhwada with an effort to reach amongst the farmers to sensitize them for cleanliness. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, a Waste Decomposer technique has been developed by National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) to keep villages clean and for saving farmers income by which animal dung and village bio-waste can be converted into good quality organic manure with very low cost. During the Pakhwada, demonstration of this technique was organized by NCOF in 142 villages/ Agricultural Mandis. This technique was also advertised in 80 newspapers in different languages to spread awareness across the country. It was also decided to provide Rs. 36 crore funds to states under RKVY and Rs. 12.5 crore to 250 e-NAM APMCs for installation of Compost Waste management plants during 2017-18.
Besides this, various offices under this Department undertook work beyond the bare minimum housekeeping activities. A Swachhta Edition of “Deewar” magazine was published by Directorate of Extension comprising Swachhta articles, columns, slogans, poems etc. During the Pakhwada cleanliness sensitization drives were also undertaken in nearby villages/ area by Centers of Soil & Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI), CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), MANAGE (subordinate/ autonomous offices under DAC&FW), and the participation of local public representatives/ Ministers in the Swachhta Campaigns was also ensured. Further, awareness programmes were also organized amongst the farmers regarding safe use of chemical pesticides and the disposal of insecticides containers after use.
Under the Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) for 2017-18 of the Department, Rs. 5.32 crore has been allocated for taking up of substantive Swachhta related activities i.e. establishment of Vermi-compost units, setting up of Biogas Plants, Conducting stale level workshops on waste recycling, setting up of slurry/ wash water tanks etc.
• During the Swachhta Pakhwada, The Department of Agricultural Research & Education/ ICAR Head Quarters in New Delhi, all the 102 Research Institutes and 671 KVKs took active part in the Pakhwada activities and conducted a wide range of cleanliness activities. Workshops, seminars, awareness camps, rallies, street plays and debates (i.e. “स्वच्छ भारत- क्या स्वस्थ भारत?”, “स्वच्छता का महत्व”) were organised by ICAR Institutes. Awareness and sensitization programmes were also organised in the adopted villages through ICAR Institutes and 671 KVKs. Swachhta based activities were undertaken in more than over 5200 villages by various ICAR Institutes and KVKs with the active participation of farmers and village youth. As part of these activities, clean farming technologies and package of practices as well as 130 nos. technologies to convert agricultural waste to wealth were also promoted, which include; preparation of bio-compost, vermicomposting, whey utilization, straw enrichment, wastewater recycling, cotton waste and fisheries waste management among others were promoted through various field and farm activities undertaken during the Pakhwada.
Senior Officers from the Institutes, public figures, local leaders and dignitaries participated in the events organised by various institutes & KVKs during the Swachhta Pakhwada. Based on the performance of the Institutions, awards (first, second and third) shall be given to the outstanding performers in the competitions announced for the three categories i.e., the offices in ICAR Head Quarters, ICAR Research Institutes and KVKs on the foundation day of the ICAR on 16th July, 2017 along with other ICAR Awards.
