NGP Nirmal Gram Puraskar : Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

Organisation : Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS)
Facility : Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP)

Website : http://nirmalgrampuraskar.nic.in/

Nirmal Gram Puraskar :

Government of India (GOI) has been promoting sanitation coverage in a campaign mode to ensure better health and quality of life for people in rural India.

Related : Swachhata Samiksha Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin : www.statusin.in/18890.html

To add vigour to its implementation, GOI launched an award based Incentive Scheme for fully sanitized and open defecation free Gram Panchayats, Blocks, Districts and States called “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” (NGP) in October 2003 and gave away the first awards in 2005 as a component of its flagship scheme Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC).

Nirmal Gram Puraskar till 2011 was given by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS), Government of India at all levels of PRIs that is Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat and district Panchayat.

It has now been decided that with the transition to Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA), selection of Gram Panchayats to award Nirmal Gram Puraskar from the year 2012 shall be taken up by the States, while selection of the Blocks and District Panchayats shall continue to be with the Centre. These guidelines have accordingly been formulated.

A Gram Panchayat will be eligible to apply for the NGP on the following grounds:
Gram Panchayat has adopted a resolution to ban open defecation within its entire area inclusive of all habitations and villages.
** All habitations within the Gram Panchayat jurisdiction have access to water for drinking and sanitation purposes.
** The Gram Panchayat has achieved objectives for all components as approved in the District Project and entered it in the IMIS of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Out of the number of GPs in a State / UT eligible for NGP, the number of eligible GPs, to be awarded NGP, will be restricted to a ceiling of three years’ average plus 25%.

Organizations, who have been the driving force for effecting full sanitation coverage in the respective geographical area.

Usage of Incentive money :
PRls which receive the incentive amount should use it for improving and maintaining sanitation facilities in their respective areas.

Some of the activities that could be taken up using this incentive money are:
** Ensuring maintenance of community sanitary facilities and sustaining NGP status
** Solid and Liquid Waste Management requirements over and above the funds available under NBA, Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and other programmes
** Creation of additional sanitation facilities in the Panchayat area such as at mela grounds, market places, schools, Anganwadis etc. not covered under any other programme
** Promotion of vermi-composting and other eco-friendly sanitary methods
** Promotion of toilets for differently-abled persons
** Promotion of toilets for differently-abled/aged
** Any other innovative means of sanitation promotion

Blocks and Districts may use the funds to set up monitoring mechanisms for sanitation. They may also allocate additional funds to Gram Panchayats for maintenance of cleanliness and promoting collection of user charges for community facilities. No permanent posts or salary liabilities should be created with these funds.

GPs winning NGP should function as training centers for people from other GPs aspiring to achieve full sanitation coverage and Pradhans from such GPs may be used as facilitators and motivators. Blocks and Districts may use the NGP funds for providing remuneration to such Pradhans.

The incentive amount should not be used for the following purposes:
** Organisation of workshops, seminars, etc.
** Organisation of Melas
** Organisation of sports events, etc.
** Purchase of vehicles, mobiles, computers, furniture etc.
** Any other related matter as may be decided by the Governing Body of the PRI