On the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, 58,000 women self-help groups are being linked with employment as they will be entrusted with the management of community toilets being constructed in all gram panchayats.

“The woman SHGs will manage the toilets and in return, Rs 6,000 per month will be paid to them. Over 6,000 women have already been given the work,” an official said.

As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the UP government is constructing community toilets in 58,000 gram panchayats. Over Rs 3 lakh has been given for the construction of a community toilet under the Swachh Bharat Mission. In many districts, large community toilets of better standard are also being constructed.

Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayati Raj) Manoj Kumar Singh said that the government’s effort was to complete the construction of toilets at every gram panchayat level by March, 2021.

“In the first phase, women of SHGs have been provided employment for maintenance of 6,000 toilets,” he said.

He said besides providing employment, quality of construction was also being verified by a third party.

As per the government decision, Rs 9,000 will be given per month for the maintenance of toilets in a gram panchayat. 

“The sanitary worker or the caretaker will clean the toilet at least twice a day and will be given Rs 6,000 per month,” Singh said. 

Besides, Rs 500 per month will be given for the repair of electricity, plumbing, taps and for cleaning equipment like broom, brushes, wipers, sponges, clothes, mop, bucket, mug etc.

Once in six months, Rs 1,000 will be given for purchase of soap, washing powder, air freshener, toilet cleaner, masks, gloves and aprons, he said.