~ NABARD extends Rs 12,298 Crore so far to construct 3.29 Crore household toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin ~
~ Announces a special refinancing facility of Rs 800 Crore in FY 2020-21 to fund a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme ~
- To promote literacy on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in over 2,000 villages
- Announces refinance schemes on WASH activities, watershed and tribal development
Mumbai, October 2, 2020: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched a nationwide Sanitation Literacy Campaign today on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The objective of the campaign, which would continue till January 26, 2021, is to create awareness to sustain behavioural change of the rural populace towards adopting good hygiene and sanitation practices.
NABARD further stated that it has disbursed Rs 12,298 crore so far under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) resulting in the construction of 3.29 crore household toilets. Moreover, NABARD announced the launch of refinance schemes for water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) activities apart from watershed and tribal development, two of the bank’s flagship development programmes.
The Sanitation Literacy Campaign will support the Government of India’s SBM-G and WASH programme to enable the vulnerable rural communities to access better sanitation facilities in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. NABARD will cover about 2,000 villages and map the sanitation needs of people. Basis the findings, it will develop a strategy to provide credit facilities, mainly for construction of household toilets.
NABARD has also announced a special refinancing facility of Rs 800 Crore in the financial year 2020-21 to fund activities such as construction of new toilets, repairs, additional toilets, retrofitting with double pit, water connection to toilets etc. These activities will be considered under the priority sector lending for the banks as well as registered NBFC-MFIs and other MFIs (Societies, Trusts etc.).
On the occasion, Dr. G R Chintala, Chairman, NABARD said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for greater awareness for better water, sanitisation and hygiene infrastructure and enhanced the significance of the Swachh Bharat Mission. This campaign will help engage with vulnerable communities that lack right sanitation facilities and identify further funding requirements. An additional credit line opened with the financial institutions will improve sanitation infrastructure in the country.”
