Sun Nov 30 10:37:28 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Despite significant progress in Dakshina Kannada, India, where most villages have been declared open defecation free (ODF) plus, the Zilla Panchayat (district council) CEO has expressed concern about the continued practice of waste dumping and burning in open areas. He has directed gram panchayats (village councils) to launch a special campaign focused on achieving “waste-free, sustainable, and clean” villages. The campaign will involve community awareness, functional toilets in all households and public facilities, proper waste management systems, sanitation advisory committees, cleanliness task forces, waste segregation, and strict action against single-use plastics. The ultimate goal is for each village to hold a “Grama Swachhata Sambhrama” (village cleanliness celebration) to declare itself waste-free.

News Article:

Dakshina Kannada Aims for Waste-Free Villages Despite ODF Plus Status

Mangaluru, India – November 30, 2025 – Despite achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status in the majority of its villages, Dakshina Kannada district is intensifying its focus on comprehensive waste management. The Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO, Narwade Vinayak Karbari, has directed all gram panchayats within the district to launch a targeted campaign aimed at creating “waste-free, sustainable, and clean” villages.

This directive comes in response to the continued issue of open waste dumping and plastic burning, even in villages that have successfully eliminated open defecation. Karbari emphasized that while community responsibility is paramount, panchayats must actively promote cleanliness awareness and provide effective waste management services.

The campaign will include several key initiatives:

  • Ensuring functional toilets in every household and public building.
  • Establishing robust solid and liquid waste management systems to prevent waste accumulation in open areas.
  • Forming Sanitation Advisory Committees and Cleanliness Taskforces involving local officials, community members, and healthcare workers.
  • Promoting waste segregation at the source and implementing strict measures against the sale and use of single-use plastics.
  • Community education and awareness campaigns on proper waste disposal practices.

ZP CEO Karbari urged panchayats to proactively declare their villages ODF compliant through community art and pictures. He emphasized that focus should be on preventing waste water stagnation and the accumulation of waste.

Once a village has achieved the desired level of cleanliness and sustainability, it will hold a “Grama Swachhata Sambhrama,” a public celebration to officially declare itself waste-free. The Zilla Panchayat hopes that this concerted effort will significantly improve sanitation and environmental quality across the district.

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