Govt likely to impose cess on petrol, diesel, telecom services to fund Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

In order to fund Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet national cleanliness project, the governemnet likely to issue Swachh Bharat bonds and impose a cess on automobile fuels, telecom services and mineral waste. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand called on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted the final report of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The sub-group of chief ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan was constituted on March 24, 2015 pursuant to the decision taken in the first Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Aayog held on February 8, 2015.

The group in its report suggested that the sharing pattern of funds for this programme between the Centre and states may be in the ratio of 75:25, while for hilly states it may be kept at 90:10. It also recommended the subsidy on chemical fertilisers and increasing financial support for compost to encourage its use. In order to improve the viability of waste management activities, the report proposes provision of tax exemptions by the Centre and the state governments to the private sector, besides enhancing the assistance for construction of individual household toilets in both urban and rural areas to Rs 15,000.

Further, the group also recommended increasing in funding for rolling out a professionally driven communication strategy. Including sanitation and cleanliness in school curriculum and formation of a team of students to be called as 'Swachhta Senani' in schools and colleges have been proposed to spread awareness about sanitation and cleanliness. Furthermore, it recommended both Centre and states should make efforts to guide, support and monitor the programme for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. It also proposed incentive measures such as Swachh Bharat grading/rating for all gram panchayats, municipalities, blocks, districts and states, each year to promote competition among them. Addinally, it recommended integrating rag pickers into the waste management system so that their livelihood is not adversely affected.