Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 1: The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Jammu and Kashmir, has launched the five-day “Swachh Gaon, Surakshit Jalvayu” (Clean Village, Secure Climate) campaign across rural areas of the Union Territory.
The campaign, which began today, will continue till June 5 and culminate on World Environment Day.
Being conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II, the campaign aligns with the national theme of World Environment Day 2026, “Climate Action”, and promotes the principles of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
The initiative aims to strengthen rural sanitation systems and encourage sustainable environmental practices through active community participation and Jan Bhagidari.
A major focus of the campaign will be on creating awareness about the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which came into effect on April 1 this year.
Activities planned during the campaign include identification and management of Bulk Waste Generators, promotion of four-stream segregation of waste at source, scientific disposal of legacy waste, and strengthening greywater management through the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recharge.
The campaign will also encourage circular economy and waste-to-wealth initiatives, self-assessment of sanitation assets by Gram Panchayats, and measures to sustain ODF Plus (Model) status and achieve Sampoorna Swachhata goals.
Plantation drives, cleanliness campaigns, stakeholder consultations and community awareness programmes will be organized across villages.
The campaign will conclude with a Special Gram Sabha on June 5, where achievements, best practices and awareness generated on the implementation of SWM Rules, 2026 will be reviewed.
Director General Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, said the campaign is a collective movement towards sustainable living, environmental protection and stronger rural sanitation systems.
She appealed to Panchayati Raj Institutions, Self-Help Groups, youth volunteers, educational institutions and citizens to actively participate in making villages cleaner and more climate-resilient.
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