Swachch Bharat Abhiyan got underway with enthusiasm in the entire Madhya Pradesh on Friday. The people offered voluntary labour for sanitation in cities and villages. About 3 crore people in the State took collective oath of sanitation during the nationwide Swachch Bharat Abhiyan launched on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary October 2.
Festivity marked the occasion in rural and urban areas. Sanitation flag was hoisted at all places and messages of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were read out.
All 23,006 Gram Panchayats participated in the campaign and held special Gram Sabhas. On the first day of the campaign, about 50 villages were declared freed from curse of open-air defecation. Collective programmes of sanitation were held at all educational institutions, government offices, hospitals and health centres under Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan.
Government officers and employees also participated in sanitation Shramdan apart from public representatives, office-bearers of Panchayats and urban bodies, members of self-help groups, Mohalla Committees, youths and students. Women also took part enthusiastically. In 1.24 lakh primary schools of the state, correct method of hand washing was taught.
In the presence of Additional Chief Secretary Aruna Sharma, Gram Panchyat Dondi in Sehore district was declared freed from the curse of open-air defecation today.
All 311 families in the Gram Panchayat of about 1801 population have constructed toilets in their houses including 243 families in village Dondi and 68 families of village Ratikhera. MlA Shailendra Patel, district Panchayat President Dharmendra Singh Chouhan, district collector Sudam Khande were also present on the occasion.
For this achievement, Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Jani Bai Mewada and other office-bearers were felicitated. On the occasion, guests and villages gave sanitation Shramdan.
State Programme Officer, State Water and Sanitation Mission Hemwati Burman, CEO RR Bhonsle and Regional Manager of Punjab National Bank SK Zutshi also congratulated villagers on the Gram Panchayat being declared freed from curse of open-air defecation.