Jairam Ramesh lauds effective works in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal: Union Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh lauded the works being carried out towards sanitation in Madhya Pradesh. He was addressing a programme during Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan at Indore today. He said that effective works towards sanitation are being carried out in Madhya Pradesh. Seeing the pace with which these works are being carried out in the state, it seems that entire Madhya Pradesh will become totally sanitised within next four to five years. In this regard, Anita of Betul district in the state has shown a new path. The programme was presided over by state’s Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava.
Union Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh said that Nirmal Bharat Yatra had commenced from village Wardha on October 3. The Yatra will continue for 55 days and conclude at Bettiah on November 19. It is very necessary to spread message of sanitation among the people. A target has been set to make 28 thousand Gram Panchayats as Nirmal Panchayats in the country in the next 10 years.
Shri Ramesh expressed happiness that Madhya Pradesh has set a target to sanitise over 7.25 thousand villages within a year. Funds will not be allowed to come in this way. If the work continues with the same pace, Madhya Pradesh will become fully sanitised state in the next four to five years. He agreed to the demand of Madhya Pradesh government to make special provisions regarding grant for toilet construction. Under MNREGA, amount of Rs. 4.50 thousand will be made available easily for construction of each toilet. There are eight lakh 40 thousand ASHA and 14 lakh Anganwadi workers in the country. Their cooperation should be sought in sanitation and clean drinking water arrangements. There are 25 lakh women’s self-help groups also. They should also be connected with this work. Anita of Betul district of Madhya Pradesh has shown a new path to the country. Her slogan “Shauchalaya naheen to dulhan naheen” (There is no bride if there is no toilet) is now reverberating in Haryana. This is not a government campaign. It should be made a mass movement.
Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava said that the concept of hygiene and sanitation is the concept of modern life and modern India. If 68 percent persons in the country do not defecate in toilets, it is not a symbol of independence. People’s cooperation is also necessary apart from government efforts to ensure total sanitation. He assured that utmost cooperation will extended to sanitise villages.
Indore Zila Panchayat Chairman Shri Omprakash Paraswadid, Members of Parliament Shri Kantilal Bhuria and Shri Prem Chand Guddu, MLAs Shri Jitu Jirati, Shri Satyanarayan Patel and Shri Tulsi Silawat, Madhya Pradesh’s Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Aruna Sharma, senior administrative officer Shri J.S. Mathur, Shri Pankaj Jain and Indore divisional commissioner Shri Prabhat Parashar were especially present on the occasion.
