Question : CRITERIA FOR NIRMAL GRAM PURASKAR

(a) whether the Government proposes to bring any amendment in the criteria of Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Governments with regard to amending the criteria of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(e) whether the Government has evolved any monitoring system to ensure that villages declared under Nirmal Gram Puraskar continue maintaining sanitation;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) & (b): No amendment in the criteria if Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana is proposed. The Government of India, under Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), administers Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) Yojna, to recognise the efforts made by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) who have contributed significantly towards ensuring full sanitation coverage in their areas of operation.

(c) & (d): NGP is a national scheme and its guidelines are revised from time to time based on experiences gained in the past and feedbacks received from various stakeholders including States, keeping the same broad criteria.

(e) to (g): In order to ensure the sustainability of Nirmal status of the NGP awardees, the NGP guidelines provide for releasing the award money in two equal installments. The first installment is released immediately after PRIs are selected for the award. The second installment is retained by the State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM). Release of the second installment is contingent on the sustainability of the NGP status attained by the PRI. For this purpose random checks are carried out by the SWSM after 6 months in all the awardee PRIs. If NGP status is found continuing, second installment is released by the SWSM. Otherwise State takes necessary measures to revive the NGP Status of awardee and till such time, the awardee gets back to the State of sustainability of NGP, further award money is not released. NGP award may be withdrawn from all persistent defaulters. In addition, National Level Monitors (NLMs) also include NGP awardees in their Annual Survey Assessment and provide report on their status.