COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN PANCHAYAT-LED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF RURAL KARNATAKA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65009/re5rxk30Keywords:
Solid Waste Management (SWM); Community Participation; Panchayat Awareness Programs; Rural Sanitation; Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin); Karnataka.,,Abstract
Solid Waste Management (SWM) plays a vital role in ensuring environmental sustainability and
public health in rural India. Despite the government’s flagship initiative, Swachh Bharat Mission
(Gramin), rural areas continue to face challenges in achieving consistent community participation
and long-term behavioral change. This study examines the relationship between awareness of
Panchayat-led SWM initiatives and the frequency of community cleanliness drives in Karnataka.
Based on primary data collected from 405 respondents across multiple Gram Panchayats, Chi
square and Multinomial Logistic Regression analyses were conducted to statistically test the
association between awareness programs and participation levels. The results reveal a significant
positive relationship, indicating that awareness programs conducted by Gram Panchayats
substantially enhance community engagement in cleanliness activities. Villages with regular
awareness campaigns show higher participation and more frequent cleanliness drives, while those
lacking such initiatives exhibit lower involvement. However, the findings also suggest that
awareness alone is insufficient unless accompanied by institutional follow-up, behavioral
incentives, and credible implementation. The study concludes that structured, participatory
awareness programs should be institutionalized within Panchayat governance frameworks to
promote sustainable rural sanitation. Strengthening local awareness mechanisms under the Swachh
Bharat Mission (Gramin) can foster collective responsibility, enhance environmental
consciousness, and ensure lasting improvements in rural waste management practices.
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