A one-day workshop on Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was held under Sanitation Awareness Week here on Monday. Youths’ organisations, community-based institutions and media representatives took part in the workshop held by State Water and Sanitation Mission.
Inaugurating the workshop, Secretary Panchayats and Rural Development Sanjeev Kumar Jha said that sanitation should be made a habit in life.
Community’s active partnership is necessary in this.
He urged youths’ organisations, community-based institutions and media representatives to play an important role creating sanitation awareness in rural areas. Jha also laid emphasis on joint efforts to eradicate habit of open-air defecation.
State Programme Officer of State Water and Sanitation Mission Hemwati Varman threw light in detail on strategy adopted for better implementation of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in the State.
She said that maximum number of youths should be associated with this campaign. Varman informed that Maryada Abhiyan has been launched in Madhya Pradesh from year 2012 under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan to ensure women’s large-scale participation. The campaign to ensure women’s dignity and security has yielded encouraging results. Under the first phase of the campaign, 5,800 villages where piped water schemes are in operation are being rid of open-air defecation.
In the second phase, piped water schemes are being started in 10 thousand other villages, which will also be free of this evil practice.
In the third phase, all villages in the district will be free of this problem. She informed that work to eradicate open-air defection is in the final stage in Burhanpur, Budhni development block in Sehore district and Badnawar development block In Dhar district.
Rajya Shiksha Mission informed about sanitation programme ‘Washing Hand’ being implemented in schools. School children in various States have been apprised about innovations to motivate them for sanitation.
At the workshop, representatives of Madhya Pradesh Jan Abhiyan Parishad, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Nehru Yuva Kendra displayed contribution being given to success of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. Joint Director, Total Sanitation Programme Sudesh Kumar Malviya proposed a vote of thanks.