Uma Bharti, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, has called for sustained cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources Development for the success of Namai Gange programme. Addressing a meeting regarding the role of IITs and educational institutes in Namami Gange programme in New Delhi today the Minister mentioned areas where the intervention of HRD Ministry is specifically required which includes rural sanitation, reuse of solid waste, adult education on environment –with focus on Ganga, development of projects especially for the most polluted tributaries –Ramganga, Kali and Yamuna, determination of e-flow and Jan bhagidari. She also mentioned that the major challenge for river Ganga is to keep it clean with approximately 20 crore people taking dip in the river every year. Bharti said, “Small stretches of rural areas can be adopted by educational institutes for treatment of small drains carrying rural sewage and solid waste and facilitate in providing 100% rural sanitation.”
Speaking on the occasion Union Minister for Human Resources Development Smriti Irani proposed a three-pronged approach for the involvement of her Ministry in Namami Gange programme. This will include, integration of all villages along river Ganga in Unnat Bharat Abhiyan – inspired by the vision of transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India; Special Literacy Package for Namami Gange – 100% literacy to the villages along river Ganga with special address to adult literacy and bringing team of national and international experts to develop innovative technologies and perform research in areas to address the challenges faced by river Ganga. She emphasized that most challenging part in the implementation of Namami Gange program is to bring behavioural changes and initiate a social movement. The Minister said these issues issue can be addressed by her Ministry by providing adult literacy and involvement of students in creating awareness.