New Delhi: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has proposed exclusive zone for street vendors in each city. The Ministry has decided to pursue the State Governments to allocate a place and to provide sanitation facility to ensure clean and hygienic food to consumers. This was announced by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while addressing a press conference here today after the conclusion of Swachhta Pakhwada organized by his ministry during 16-31 Oct 2016. The Minister said that that one of the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission is to create a permanent mechanism through new and innovative schemes. Shri Paswan mentioned, in pursuance of this, the Department of Consumer Affairs has decided to launch two new schemes related to Swachh Bharat Mission i.e. (i) Clean Consumer Fora and (ii) Clean Market.
The Union Minster said that under the scheme ‘Clean Consumer Fora” financial assistance will be provided to Consumer Fora for sanitation facility while under the “Clean Market Scheme” the VCOs will be associated and asked to adopt a market place where they can carry out awareness activities on Swachhta and also cleanliness of the market place in association with the market association/local authorities including provision of sanitation facilities for consumers and with exclusive sanitation facilities in each market place for street vendor. Financial assistance will be provided to VCOs
During the Swachhta Pakhwada (16-31October 2016) some of the significant activities carried out by the Department of Consumer Affairs as follows.
The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs inaugurated a Consumer Mela on 20th October, 2016, during the Swachhta Pakhwada, at Central Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi with the main objective of bringing the consumers and the companies face to face so as to resolve the grievances to the extent possible and also to make the consumers aware about their responsibility towards Swachhta. During the Consumer Mela, the Minister administered Swachhta Oath to over 2000 visitors and participants and appealed to the people to keep their surroundings clean. Nukkad Nataks on consumer awareness and Swachhta and Poster making competition by School children were also organized during the event.
Consumer Awareness Week was also launched during the Consumer Mela and observed during 20-27 October, 2016, whichnot only focused on the rights of the consumers but also on their responsibilities, including towards cleanliness. All State Governments and stakeholders requested to observe the Consumer Awareness Week in their respective states. Activities related to Swachhta were also carried out by the field offices/organisations of the Department.
During the Pakhwada the activities carried out by Department of Food and Public Distribution are as under:
- The pakhwada was started with oath of swachhta being administered in all the offices of the department and its organizations.
- The Minister of State, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri C.R. Chaudhary participated in the cleanliness drive organized at Ghewara Depot of FCI. Message of Swacchta was delivered by the Minister of State.
- During the pakhwada awareness processions were carried out and cleanliness drives in public spaces were carried out.
- Banners & Stickers advocating swachhta were used by all the organizations of the department to create awareness in the public
- Running trophy/awards instituted during the last pakhwada were continued. Cleanest sections were awarded in the department as well as FCI.
- Weeding out and recording of old records were carried out including review of recorded files in the record room.
Other Action Taken
- Rs. 200 lakhs contributed towards “Swachh Bharat Kosh” during 2015-16 by CWC.
- Rs. 133.25 lakhs contributed towards Namami Ganga by CWC.
- 50 Rain Water Harvesting Systems have been completed at a cost of Rs. 85.60 lakhs during 2015-16 by CWC .
- Letters have been issued to various sugar factory and distilleries to undertake cleanliness drive in the factory & surrounding areas.
Further Action
- Sanitation and water supply facilities in 51 FCI Depots will be upgraded/provided.
- An amount of Rs. 178 lakhs has been provisioned for “Swachh Bharat Kosh” during 2016-17
- 100 Rain Water Harvesting Systems have been planned for construction by CWC in the next two years.
- CWC has also planned to construct toilets blocks in ten schools.
