Panchayats Have a Key Role in Waste-free Drive: Addl CS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Effective intervention of panchayat officials is important to achieve the goals set out as part of the waste-management campaign Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam, said Sarada Muraleedharan, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department (LSGD).

Inaugurating the training programme for Panchayat Secretaries here, Sarada Muraleedharan said panchayats have a key role in effectively carrying out the second phase of the campaign.

There should be effective interventions from the panchayats, especially by the Panchayat secretaries, to achieve the goals set out as part of the campaign, she said addressing the first batch of officials from southern districts attending the training programme at the Grama Panchayat Association Hall here on Wednesday.

The training programme has been scheduled in three batches over six days, covering the entire state.

“Panchayats should focus on implementing the campaign in a time-bound manner. Also, they should ensure utilization of the funds available from all sources for the waste management projects” she said.

It is the responsibility of the officials to ensure that the waste management systems are functioning seamlessly without any failure, she said.

Sarada Muraleedharan also emphasized the importance of detecting and punishing those violating the laws related to waste management thus putting an end to such irresponsible acts.

M G Rajamanickam, Principal Director, LSGD; H Dinesan, Director – Panchayats, K T Balabhaskaran, Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission; G K Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, Clean Kerala Company; and Joy Elamon, Director General, Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) were also present.

In all, 330 officials from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Idukki districts are attending the two-day training.