Srinagar, June 25: The two-day UT-Level Workshop on Solid Waste Management & Planning under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) concluded successfully at J&K IMPARD, Srinagar, with extensive deliberations on the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
The workshop served as an important platform for discussing key aspects of scientific waste management and sustainable sanitation practices across Jammu & Kashmir.
Detailed sessions were held on Four-Stream Segregation, waste categorization, types of plastic waste, and source-level segregation of waste, emphasizing the importance of segregation at the point of generation.
Participants also reviewed and discussed the sanitation plans prepared by various districts.
The Assistant Commissioners Panchayats (ACPs) and BDOs and other field functionaries from across J&K actively participated in the deliberations, sharing field-level challenges and best practices while exploring practical solutions for strengthening waste management systems in rural areas.
A special session was devoted to the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme, during which participants were briefed about its objectives and implementation framework.
Districts were urged to expedite the identification and registration of waste pickers and sanitation workers to ensure their inclusion under the scheme and facilitate access to social security, skill development, and livelihood support measures.
The inaugural session of the workshop was led by Anoo Malhotra, Director General, Rural Sanitation, J&K, who highlighted the importance of effective planning, community participation, and adherence to the SWM Rules, 2026 for achieving sustainable sanitation outcomes.
The valedictory session on the second day was presided over by Shabir Ahmad Hakak, Deputy Director, Rural Sanitation Kashmir, who emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among stakeholders to strengthen waste management systems and ensure effective implementation of the new regulatory framework.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks presented by the Field Officer, Office of Deputy Director Rural Sanitation, Kashmir Shajat Farooq, who expressed gratitude to all participants, resource persons, and organizers for their valuable contributions towards advancing solid waste management and sanitation initiatives across Jammu & Kashmir.
