Question : NIRMAL GRAM VILLAGES

(a) the criteria for declaring a village as Nirmal Gram; and

(b) the number of villages declared as Nirmal Gram in Kerala so far?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) As per the revised Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) Guidelines, Gram Panchayats are eligible to apply for the NGP if they fulfill the following conditions:-

# The 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 the objectives for all the components as approved in the District Project under the Nirmal Bharat Abiyan (NBA) and have entered the achievements in the IMIS of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS).

Upon receipt of the application, the Gram Panchayats are also examined for achievements under the following activities :

# Coverage of Individual Household Latrine (IHHL)

# Coverage of School Sanitation

# Coverage of Anganwadi Sanitation

# Access to adequate water as per National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP) Guidelines

# Activities under Information, Education and Communication.

# Activities under Solid Waste Management

# Activities under Liquid Waste Management

(b) 980 Gram Panchayats in Kerala have been awarded the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP), so far,