National Level Consultation and Sensitization Programme to be held at New Delhi

With the aim of cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga river through active participation of rural population, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organizing ‘Swachh Ganga-Gramin Sehbhagita’, a national level stakeholder consultation and sensitization programme on 30^thof this month at New Delhi.Gram Pradhans of 1649 Gram Panchayats,Chief Ministers of Jharkhand and Uttrakhand, Union Ministers of HRD, Tourism, Youth Affairs & Sports, RD & DWS, Ayush and  Shipping, eminent policy makers, implementers and NGOs will attend the programme.

Aimed at bringing all the stakeholders on a single platform, the one-day consultation and sensitization programme is a national dialogue on Ganga to facilitate interaction with various stakeholders and draw ideas that will give a better insight for framing a strategic long-term policy for restoration of the Ganges.

Deliberations will take place on themes of medicinal plants and livelihood, treatment of rural solid waste and gram swachhta. The programme will provide a platform for various stakeholders to come together to discuss the issues and possible solutions to the challenging task of Ganga Rejuvenation. The views expressed by the stakeholders participating in the programme will be helpful in formulation of road map for the preparation of a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate the Ganga.

The programme would begin with an opening session and address by Sushri Uma Bharti, Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation followed by separate sessions including address by  Chief Ministers of Jharkhand and Uttrakhand, Union Ministers of HRD, Tourism, Youth Affairs & Sports, RD & DWS, Ayush and Shipping, screening of video on Namami Gange Programme, address by Acharya Balkrishna on Medicinal Plants and livelihood in upper ridges of river Ganga, various presentations on Ganga Gram, Unnat Bharat Synergy, Seenchawal Model of River Cleaning and treatment of open drains in villages and launch of Ganga Vichar Manch, a portal created with the aim of initiating interactive dialogues among various stakeholders of River Ganga. The programme will also feature the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Governments of Jharkhand and Uttrakhand.

The programme will conclude with a combined experience sharing session where all the Gram Pradhans will come together to discuss their views, ideas and share their experiences in the presence of eminent personalities, renowned environmentalists, representatives of various ministries and policy makers to facilitate formulation of a long-term strategy.

NMCG, is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) and is presently implementing various pollution abatement, aquatic resource conservation and institutional development projects under NGRBA in the five basin states on the main stem of the Ganga adopting basin-based holistic approach.