Second Advisory Committee Meeting On Rapid Action Learning Unit Under Swachch Bharat Mission In Andhra Pradesh

The Advisory Committee constituted to review and support activities of Rapid Action Learning Unit Andhra Pradesh ((RALU-AP), convened its second meeting on 13 June 2016 at 3:00 pm in the chambers of Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Water and Sanitation in Hyderabad. This Advisory Committee has been constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Panchayat Raj with the Principal Secretary (PR & RWS) as the Chair, Mission Director SBM as the Member Convenor and PRIA as the Member Secretary. The meeting on 13 June 2016 was attended by the Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare; Commissioner, Women Development and Child Welfare; Commissioner of College Education; Commissioner Panchayat Raj and Rural Development; and Representative from WaterAid, who are all members of the committee.

The members reviewed progress of RALU-AP in the last 3 months and actions on decisions taken during the first Advisory Committee meeting. The PRIA RALU team shared its field findings, insights, innovations and practices documented in North Coastal Region of Andhra Pradesh in addition to efforts made to forge collaboration with academic institutes for participatory research on sanitation. PRIA also put forward the challenges faced by the community, SBM and the RALU team, suggesting recommendations that have emerged from these field experiences.

A tentative plan of action for Phase II of RALU-AP from April 2016 to March 2017 was presented. The plan focuses on generating citizen’s feedback on progress of sanitation and to undertake participatory research on issues emerging at the grassroots level. The Department of College Education has responded positively to support research by RALU-AP and the Department of Health has offered its support through ASHA workers for RALU-AP activities at the grassroots.

The committee decided that 1000 champions will be identified from mandal and gram panchayat levels to be felicitated on 2nd October to show appreciation for achieving ODF status. The committee also recommended undertaking analytical documentation of case studies from Nellore District and to develop “child as champion” in sanitation activities.