As preparations are in full swing in Odisha to celebrate the upcoming 10-day Rath Yatra in Puri, the Centre has asked the State Government to use the mega occasion as a platform to launch an aggressive cleanliness drive under the Swachchh Bharat Mission.
The aim is to target thousands of tourists thronging the Yatra from across the country to make them aware about benefits of cleanliness and constructing toilet facilities, said a senior Government official from the Union Water and Sanitation Ministry, which is a nodal agency to implement the Mission in rural areas.
“Since during the Rath Yatra (car festival), devotees come in a large numbers from both rural and urban parts of India, it is a good opportunity for launching an aggressive awareness campaign to educate people about safe handling and quality drinking water and also hazards of adopting open defeacation and benefits of making toilets and using them at homes,” said Sandhya Singh, Joint Secretary in the Ministry.
In a letter to State Principal Secretary (Water and Sanitation) PK Mahapatra, she said, “Therefore, you are requested to launch the campaign in Puri especially on the Rath Yatra routes/locations . Activities like nukkad nataks and quizzes can also be organised while stalls should be set up to showcase exhibitions in this regard. People may be provided with safe water.
“The fund for the campaign can be utilised from the NRWDP schemes,” she suggested.The State Government is expecting a congregation of about 25 lakh people on the car festival day.
Ten thousand police personnel, including officers, would be deployed in and around the city to ensure safety of the devotees and for smooth conduct of the annual Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath scheduled to be held on July 18.