Khalwa gram panchayat in Siwan’s Nautan block has combined waste processing, toilet repairs, digital fee collection and sanitation-worker training to create a rural waste management model under the Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, according to a press release issued by Bihar’s information and public relations department on Saturday.
The panchayat’s waste processing unit segregates household waste and converts organic waste into manure using the Narayan Deotao Pandharipande, or NADEP, method. The facility has also been landscaped as a garden, giving it the appearance of a community park rather than a conventional waste disposal site, the release said.
To create a local use for the processed material, the panchayat has signed an agreement with a nursery operator for the purchase of the manure. Khalwa gram panchayat Mukhiya Amit Singh said the arrangement allows household waste to generate value while supporting horticulture activities in the area.
The waste processing unit also houses a sanitation clinic that sells repair materials for household toilets. These include toilet seats, pipes, doors, cement, bricks and steel rods. The facility is intended to help residents repair damaged toilets before they fall into disuse, Singh said.
The panchayat has extended the unit’s role to the upkeep of waste-collection vehicles. Tools, puncture-repair kits and mechanics are available for handcarts, tricycles and e-rickshaws used in sanitation operations. Singh said sanitation workers have been trained in vehicle servicing and repairs, allowing them to maintain equipment for neighbouring panchayats and earn additional income.
The model also links sanitation services to local revenue collection. Residents can pay user charges through a QR code, with the money transferred directly to the panchayat’s bank account. Singh said the system has collected nearly Rs 4 lakh so far, with the funds being used for sanitation and maintenance activities.
For special cleaning services during weddings and other social functions, the panchayat has introduced a revenue-sharing arrangement. Half of the earnings goes to the panchayat fund, while the remaining half is paid to sanitation workers, according to Singh.
Rural development and IPRD minister Shravan Kumar praised Khalwa’s initiative and described it as an example for other panchayats. He said the Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, launched under former chief minister Nitish Kumar, had developed into a people’s movement across the state. The panchayat’s next operational focus, as described by its officials, is to sustain waste processing, equipment maintenance, fee collection and worker-linked services through the existing facility.
