In a historic event, a joint Hima, Kanaksundari, and Sinja rural municipalities WASH Conference held in Hima Rural Municipality has resulted in the declaration of an 11-point Sinja Valley Declaration focused on ensuring safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for all.
The conference was graced by the Minister for Water Supply, Pradeep Yadav, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply, Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Director General, Ram Kumar Shrestha, officials from the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management, and the Chairpersons, Vice chairpersons of Hima, Sinja, and Kanakasundari Rural Municipalities.
Acknowledging the important role of water, sanitation, and hygiene in human health, the declaration aligns with Nepal’s national target of achieving universal access to WASH services by 2030. The gathering was a collective step towards ensuring sustainable and inclusive WASH practices in the Sinja Valley.
The 11-Point Sinja Valley WASH Declaration
- Each local government commits to setting up maintenance funds for all water supply systems and will operate them effectively through Service Support Centers to ensure long-term functionality.
- A campaign will be launched to ensure every household has a tap and an improved toilet by promoting climate-resilient and safe drinking water systems.
- All households will be encouraged to build handwashing stations and adopt handwashing with soap as a daily hygiene habit.
- WASH Coordination Committees at the municipal and ward levels, along with mothers’ groups and other stakeholders, will be mobilized to build municipalities that are open defecation-free and focused on total sanitation.
- Safe and inclusive WASH facilities—including menstrual hygiene management and accessibility for persons with disabilities—will be constructed in public places like schools, health centers, temples, and more.
- Harmful traditional practices such as Chhaupadi will be eliminated through active participation from religious and social leaders, child clubs, and adolescent groups. Menstrual hygiene programs will be given special priority.
- Emphasis will be placed on multiple uses of water, including management of kitchen gardens, solid and liquid waste, and plantation drives to maintain the beauty of the rural municipalities.
- At least 10% of the annual municipal development budget will be allocated to WASH activities, with a focus on campaigns and impactful interventions in sanitation and dignified menstrual hygiene management.
- Each rural municipality will institutionalize its WASH unit as a permanent branch by aligning with the intent of its local WASH Act to ensure sustainable management of water and sanitation services.
- The concept of Model Homes, Model Communities, Model Schools, and Model Wards will be implemented with indicators to guide the journey toward total sanitation and dignified menstrual hygiene management.
- Recognizing cleanliness as a civic duty, every citizen under the jurisdiction of the three rural municipalities pledges to actively engage in daily sanitation practices at home and in public spaces.
२०८२ बैशाख ७ गते
नाराः “एक घर, एक चर्पी परिसरमा धारा, सफा स्वच्छ वातावरण स्वस्थ्य नागरिक सारा”
१. आ- आफ्नो पालिकामा निर्माण भएका सबै खानेपानी योजनामा सेवा सहायता केन्द्रको अवाधरणालाई ध्यानमा राख्दै मर्मत सम्भार कोषको ब्यबस्था गरि योजना सुचारुपना गर्न आवश्यक व्यवस्था मिलाउनेछौं ।
२.सबैका लागि र सधैका लागि प्रयोग हुने गरि जलवायु उत्थानशिल सुरक्षित खानेपानी योजना मार्फत एक घर एक धारा , एक घर एक सुधारिएको शौचालय निर्माण कार्यलाइ अभियानकै रुपमा अगाडी बढाउनेछौं ।
३. हरेक घरमा साबुन पानीले हात धुने स्थानको निर्माण गरी साबुन पानीले हात धुने कार्यलाइ अभियानकै रुपमा अगाडी बढाउनेछौं ।
४. पूर्ण सरसफाई उन्मुख पालिका निर्माणका लागि पालिका वास समन्वय समिति , वडा वास समन्वय समिति, पूर्ण सरसफाई कार्यदल, आमा समूह लगायत विभिन्न सरोकारवाला निकायहरु बीचको समन्वय र सहकार्यलाई प्रभावकारी बनाइ परिचालन गर्नेछौ ।
५. सार्वजनिक स्थल तथा संस्थाहरु जस्तै ; स्कुल, स्वास्थ्य संस्था, मठ मन्दिर आदिमा आवश्यकतानुसार अपाङ्गतामैत्री, महिनावारी व्यवस्थापन सहितको लैङ्गिकमैत्री सुरक्षित खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ सुविधाको निर्माण गर्नेछौं ।
६.छाउपडी जस्ता हानिकारक कुप्रथाको अन्त्य गर्न धार्मिक तथा सामाजिक अगुवा, बाल क्लब, किशोरी समूह लगायतका सरोकारवाला पक्षहरुको सक्रिय सहभागिता सहित निरन्तर अभियान सञ्चालन गर्नुका साथै महिनावारी स्वच्छता व्यवस्थापनका लागि आवश्यक सामग्रीको पहुँच, उचित प्रयोग र बिसर्जनको व्यवस्थापन सुनिश्चित गर्न व्यवहार परिवर्तन सञ्चार सम्बन्धी कार्यक्रमहरूलाई प्राथमिकताका साथ सञ्चालन गर्ने छौं।।
७. पानीको बहुपयोग प्रणालीलाई प्राथमिकतामा राखी योजनाहरु निर्माण गर्ने, करेसा बारी ब्यबस्थापन तथा तरल फोहोरको व्यवस्थापन गरि पानीको उत्पादन मुलक प्रयोग, ठोस फोहोरको ब्यबस्थापन र सार्वजनिक स्थलहरुमा वृक्षारोपण जस्ता क्रियाकलापहरु संचालन गरि समग्र गाउँपालिकाको सुन्दरतालाई कायम राख्नेछौं ।
८. खानेपानी, सरसफाइ, स्वच्छता र मर्यादित महिनावारी व्यवस्थापनका लागि अभियानात्मक क्रियाकलाप संचालन गर्न पालिकाको विकास बजेटको कम्तीमा दश प्रतिशत बजेट बार्षिक रुपमा यस क्षेत्रमा विनियोजन गर्नेछौं ।
९. दिगो सुरक्षित खानेपानी, सरसफाइ तथा स्वच्छता व्यवस्थापनको लागि आ-आफ्नो गाउँपालिकाको खानेपानी, सरसफाइ तथा स्वच्छता ऐन को भावनालाई आत्मसाथ गर्दै गाउँपालिकाको खानेपानी, सरसफाइ तथा स्वच्छता इकाई लाई स्थायी शाखाको रुपमा स्थापना गर्नेछौं । ।
१० नमूना घर, नमूना समुदाय, नमूना विद्यालय, र नमुना वडाको अवधारणा अबलम्बन गर्दै स्थानीय सरकारलाई लाई पूर्ण सरसफाइ उन्मुख तथा मर्यादित महिनावारी व्यवस्थापनयुक्त क्षेत्र बनाउन सूचकहरु तयार गरी लागु गर्नेछौ ।
११ आफ्नो घर वरपर, सार्वजनिक स्थल लगायतका स्थानहरुमा सफा सुगर गर्ने आफ्नो परम कर्तब्य ठानी तीन वटै स्थानिय सरकारका हरेक नागरिकले दैनिक सरसफाईका क्रियाकलापहरु गर्नेछौ।
Other Highlights of the WASH Conference
The conference wasn’t just about signing documents, it was a vibrant, emotional gathering.
National Singer and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Goodwill Ambassador Rekha Joshi electrified the audience with a powerful musical performance. Her songs on menstrual health, taboos, and dignity resonated deeply with the crowd.
Alongside Rekha Joshi’s performance, a Khas language drama showcasing the dangers of open defecation and the importance of safe sanitation was also performed. Local artists like the popular ‘Bhairey Team’ also delivered strong, culturally rooted performances emphasizing sanitation, hygiene, safe water, and menstrual hygiene.
The official announcement of Dewargaun’s lower settlement as Upper Karnali’s first Total Sanitation-Oriented Community marks a historic first in Jumla for achieving all total sanitation indicators, making it a proud moment for everyone involved.
A New Beginning for Sinja Valley
The 11-Point Declaration was jointly signed by the Minister, Secretary, Director General, Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers, Ward Chairs, Executive Members, Section Heads, and other stakeholders of Hima, Sinja, and Kanakasundari.
They all pledged to make their municipalities cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive.
As the declaration says:
“Proper provision of water and sanitation services and the right hygiene practices positively impact health, development, and dignity. From this day forward, we are committed to transforming our municipalities into sanitation-focused regions, grounded in our shared vision of improvement and growth.”
Nara (Motto)
“एक घर, एक चर्पी परिसरमा धारा, सफा स्वच्छ वातावरण, स्वस्थ्य नागरिक सारा।”
(One home, one toilet, a tap in the yard, clean environment, healthy citizens for all.)
