District Parishad asks Panchayats to mobilise youth for anti-drug marathon and implement Solid Waste Management Rules across rural Yamunanagar

Yamunanagar | Rama Kaushik

The District Council (Zila Parishad), Yamunanagar, has directed village panchayats to intensify public participation in the upcoming 10-km ‘Run Against Drugs’ marathon while ensuring the effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 across rural areas.

Chairing a meeting of Gram Secretaries and Sarpanches at the District Parishad office in Jagadhri, Chief Executive Officer Sushil Kumar called for a coordinated effort to encourage maximum participation in the marathon, describing it as an important initiative to promote a healthy, drug-free and environmentally conscious society.

He urged Panchayats to motivate students, sportspersons, women and rural youth to register and take part in the event, saying such campaigns not only encourage physical fitness but also strengthen awareness against drug abuse.

In a significant appeal, Sushil Kumar asked village representatives and government officials to personally assist talented athletes who are unable to afford the registration process.

“No deserving player should miss the opportunity because of financial constraints. If necessary, we should help such participants by bearing the registration cost ourselves,” he said.

The meeting also focused on the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, with the CEO directing all Gram Panchayats to ensure mandatory segregation of household waste into four categories at the source:

• Wet Waste: Kitchen and biodegradable waste

• Dry Waste: Paper, plastic, glass and metal

• Domestic Hazardous Waste: Batteries, bulbs, paint and expired medicines

• Sanitary Waste: Sanitary pads, diapers and biomedical household waste

Sushil Kumar said waste segregation at source is a civic responsibility and an essential step towards cleaner villages. He instructed Panchayats to organise public awareness drives, village meetings, door-to-door campaigns and public announcements to educate residents about scientific waste management practices.

He also directed all Gram Secretaries and Sarpanches to implement the instructions in a time-bound manner and submit regular progress reports to the District Parishad office.

The meeting was attended by Jaswinder Singh, Chief Executive Officer (District Council), Block Development and Panchayat Officers, officials of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission, including Balinder Kataria, Manoj, Devender Sharma, along with Gram Secretaries and elected Sarpanches from across the district.

POD/DESK