NABARD’s Sanitation WASH Literacy & Refinance Campaign launched in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 3, 2020

NABARD launched a state-wide Sanitation Literacy Campaign on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday. The Campaign was kick-started in Moodymmai Village under Thadlaskein C&RD Block, West Jaintia Hills as the need for good hygiene and sanitation and sustaining behavioural change, both at community and individual level has been necessitated due to the present COVID 19 situation.

The campaign was facilitated by Society for Urban & Rural Empowerment (SURE). The technical session was imparted by Corrine Slong of NESFAS.

Greville N. Kharlukhi, District Development Manager of NABARD informed that loans 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.

“So far, NABARD has disbursed Rs.12,298 Crore under Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) resulting in construction of 3.29 Crore household toilets. Additionally, NABARD has launched a refinance scheme of Rs.800 Crore for FY21 for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH),” Kharlukhi said.

He also said 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 COVID-19 pandemic.

“NABARD will cover about 2000 villages and map the sanitation needs of people. Based on the findings, it will develop a strategy to provide credit facilities including for construction of household toilets,” he added.