5,800 villages to be freed from curse of open area defecation

Bhopal. Maryada Abhiyan has been launched in Madhya Pradesh for freeing villages from the curse of open area defecation. Through the campaign, awareness is being created among villagers about environmental improvement, sanitation and safeguarding women’s modesty. For this purpose, a three-day workshop was organised by Panchayats and Rural Development Department with the cooperation of UNICEF. The workshop concluded here today.
Principal Secretary Panchayats & Rural Development Smt. Aruna Sharma said that in the first phase, 5,800 villages, where piped water schemes are in operation are being freed from open area defecation. She said that development is incomplete without sanitation. For this purpose, internal roads and drains are being constructed in villages under Panch Parmeshwar Yojna. Besides, initiative has been taken to construct pucca toilets in all the village houses under Maryada Abhiyan. UNICEF State Head Smt. Tanya Goldener, UNICEF Sanitation Experts Dr. Gregor and Sushri Shalini Prasad discussed success of the campaign with participants. The workshop was participated by District Coordinators of Water and Sanitation Mission and CEOs of Janpad Panchayats. They also made presentations about action plans chalked out in their respective areas for ending the curse of open area defecation.
Smt. Aruna Sharma said that pucca internal village roads, pucca drains, soak-pits, personal toilets, community toilets and toilets in schools and Anganwadis are being constructed for total sanitation in the state. A programme is being conducted to educate schoolchildren on sanitation. Special campaign will be conducted with the assistance of Unilever in all the schools of Guna, Shivpuri and Tikamgarh districts. An intensive campaign is being conducted to free villages in Burhanpur district and Budni and Badnawar Janpad Panchayats from the curse of open area defecation. The Principal Secretary hoped that pleasant atmosphere of sanitation in rural areas of the state will be created Maryada Abhiyan ss a sub-plan of Madhya Pradesh Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.
Sushri Tanya Goldener lauded dedicated efforts of the State Government in the direction of sanitation through Maryada Abhihan. She said that Madhya Pradesh will carve out a distinct identity in the country in sanitation. State Programme Officer of Water and Sanitation Mission Smt. Pushpalata Singh threw light on the workshop’s objectives. Shri Bai Shaili of UNICEF Bhopal and senior officers of Panchayats & Rural Development Department were also present on the occasion.