State Drinking Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani has called upon the people to join hands to make every village in Uttarakhand clean by 2017. Speaking at a programme on rural drinking water and cleanliness programme here on Monday, Naithani said that the State Government is committed to maintaining cleanliness in the society.
“Under our ongoing cleanliness programmes, we have decided to equip every household with services like toilets. Under the Clean India Campaign, an amount of Rs12,000 is being given to each family to construct a toilet. So, our aim is to equip every household with toilet by 2016,” he added.
“Therefore, we appeal to the people to join hands with the Government to make every village a 'nirmal gram' by 2017, Naithani further said. The Government of India launched the Central rural cleanliness programme in 1986. The basic purpose of this programme was only to provide a clean atmosphere to the citizens. That is why it is vital to focus on cleanliness in a big way”, Naithani said.
Speaking on this occasion, chairperson of the Nainital district panchayat, Sumitra Prasad, said, “we have to start the cleanliness campaign from every household. Only then a neat and clean environment could be provided”. Maintaining that cleanliness is the need of the hour to take on different kinds of water and vector-borne diseases, the people's cooperation is vital to make the ongoing cleanliness campaign a success, Prasad added. Among others, 'gram pradhan' from all districts of Kumaon division and people were present on the occasion.