AGRA: The union ministry of urban development has decided to award Swachh Excellence Award to a women self-help group of Agra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award on February 15. The group will also get monetary assistance of Rs 2 lakh.Encouraged by the “Kabad Se Jugad” scheme of Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC), the group operating in a slum of trans-Yamuna locality are using municipal solid waste to prepare artificial jewellery, decorative pieces, cloth bags, compost and other items of utility. The group is working actively since past 10 months. Now, they are making a monthly profit of Rs 2 lakh.The group is using municipal solid waste to prepare artificial jewellery, decorative pieces, cloth bags, compost and other items of utility.AMC executive engineer (environment), Rajiv Rathi said, “We Self Depend, area level committee operating in Prakash Nagar area of Trans-Yamuna locality with support of the AMC, has done exceptional work in promoting cleanliness. The group prepare decorative items, compost and other products using solid waste. The women associated with the group have also played a crucial role in spreading awareness regarding construction and use of toilets to put a tab on open defecation. The group will be awarded the Swachh Excellence Award by PM Narendra Modi on February 15.”Under the National Urban Livelihood Scheme , AMC formed self-help groups of 10-10 women in different parts of the city. The move was aimed at enabling women living in slum areas to gain self-employment opportunities. Later, members of 20 different self-help groups united to form the ‘We Self Depend’ area level committee. On April 4, 2018, the committee was registered with AMC to work on the ‘Kabad Se Jugad’ plan. Neelam Sirsa Kushwah was appointed the president.Neelam said, “Nothing is waste. Garbage can be recycled and reused in different ways. With support of AMC, we are running a successful business by selling products made using solid waste. We prepare baskets, bags, foot mats, artificial earrings and other items. We are happy that the government has recognized our efforts.”“There are 20 active members and 100 other women associated with our group. On a daily basis, we collect flowers from religious places and use them to prepare high quality compost. We also prepare vermicompost using machines of AMC. All of us are very happy that government has recognized our efforts. This will encourage other women in slum areas to become independent,” said secretary of the committee, Saiyra.Mayor, Naveen Jain said, “The women self-help group of Agra to be awarded Swachh Excellence Award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is only one in the entire UP. This was made possble because of the innovative initiative ‘Kabad Se Jugad’ of the AMC. We are continuously working to strengthen self-help groups in the city.”

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