BACKGROUND
Sanitation refers to the entire range
of habits and practices in our daily life that helps us
lead a healthy life. The following elements define the package
of practices, which together constitute sanitation :
(i) Solid waste management;
(ii) Safe disposal of human excreta;
(iii) Safe disposal of waste water;
(iv) Safe handling of drinking water;
(v) Personnel hygiene;
(vi) Home sanitation and food hygiene; and
(vii) Community environmental sanitation
Inadequate solid waste management resulting in environmental
and ground water pollution and uncontrolled breeding of
mosquitoes, flies and rodents has been the cause of the
outbreak of many communicable diseases in the State. Most
of the urban local bodies in the State are beset with acute
problems related to solid waste management with no solution
in sight. As per the Supreme Court directive in writ petition
No. 888 of 1996, all urban local bodies are required to
set up waste processing and disposal facilities before December
31, 2003. In this context, it is proposed to launch a project
for integrated solid waste management in urban local governments,
on a campaign mode.
The local self-government
institutions (LSGIs) have the primary responsibility for
implementing integrated solid waste management systems in
urban areas. They also have inherent capability to promote
activities concerning waste to wealth, hygienic environment,
overall cleanliness and environmental up gradation. However,
lack of expertise and man power to conceive and evolve sustainable
waste management programmes using appropriate technology
options, probably, keep them away from such a front line
activity. Therefore, government felt it necessary to have
mechanism to perform the act of an enabler and facilitator
for the LSGIs and a motivator to the society. Hence, the
Clean Kerala Mission (CKM).
The goal of Clean Kerala
can be fully realized only through a "total" sanitation
project encompassing the whole range of components detailed
above covering the entire state, both urban and rural.
