By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, June 15
Experts of UNICEF visited village Ratanpur in Sehore district today to take stock development works being carried out in the rural areas under Total Sanitation Campaign and efforts for creating awareness towards sanitation among villagers. UNICEF sanitation expert Shri Gregor and his team were accompanied by senior officers of Madhya Pradesh Water and Sanitation Mission.
Principal Secretary Panchayats & Rural Development Smt. Aruna Sharma informed the team members about the activities being carried out in the rural area and programmes for the welfare of villagers.
Several important works have been undertaken to prevent habit of open area defecation under Total Sanitation Campaign at Gram Panchayat Ratanpur in Budni development block of Sehore district during the last one year. Villagers have constructed their own toilets. This has ensured women’s dignity besides environmental and health improvements. It may be mentioned that Total Sanitation Campaign is being successfully implemented in Budni development block. By November 2012, most of villages in the development block will get rid of open area defecation and attain the status of clean villages.
During the visit, the team took stock of various development works and held group discussions with villagers of Ratanpur. They also held discussions with members of Gram Panchayat Surveillance Committee, leading workers and teachers, members of women’s self-help groups and community workers about their contribution. On the occasion, State Programme Officer of Water and Sanitation Mission Smt. Pushplata Singh and Janpad Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Shri Ajay Tiwari informed that awareness towards Total Sanitation Campaign is being brought about in all the villages of Budni development block. For this purpose, aware village workers selected as Swachhata Doots (Ambassadors of Sanitation) are being sent to various villages to motivate people towards sanitation.
Later, the team members also inspected toilet improvement and attracting painting work done with the assistance of UNICEF at the government school of Ratanpur village. Water remains available at this toilet for 24 hours. Soap is made available there for students to motivate them towards sanitation. Health of students improves when they clean their hands with soap. A community hall has also been constructed at this village where villagers are educated about importance of sanitation and hygiene. Besides, an overhead tank is being constructed in the village to ensure uninterrupted water supply to toilets in houses.
