Which one among the following was the objective of starting the Nirmal Gram Puraskar incentive scheme?

The Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) was launched by the Government of India in 2003 as an incentive scheme to bolster the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) [2]. Its primary objective is to encourage Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), such as Gram Panchayats, Blocks, and Districts, to achieve 100% sanitation coverage and eliminate open defecation [4]. The scheme shifted the focus from merely financing hardware to performance-based financial rewards for local governments that achieved collective sanitation outcomes [3]. To be eligible, a PRI must ensure 100% individual household toilet coverage, school sanitation, and overall environmental cleanliness [2]. By incentivizing PRIs, the government aimed to foster healthy competition and community-led initiatives to improve the general quality of life and health in rural India [5].

Sources

1. [2] https://core.ac.uk/download/357302029.pdf
2. [1] https://swachhbharatmission.ddws.gov.in/sites/default/files/Studies-and-surveys/FinalNGPStudyReportbyCMSEnvironmenFINAL.pdf
3. [4] https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=7271
4. [3] https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstreams/23c8dde5-e3f9-566d-85e2-25ab19542ae6/download
5. [5] https://megphed.gov.in/schemes/NewTSCGuideline.pdf