Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Secretary Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Khurshid Ahmad Shah today launched a project for SAGY village Mathwar to make it Open Defecation Free (ODF) in collaboration with Idea Cellular Ltd.
Under the project, Idea Cellular ltd will be providing gap funding under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The funds will be placed at the disposal of Department of RD & PR which will be the coordinating and implementing agency for the project and the progress will be conveyed to Idea Cellular on regular basis. Under this, a total of 430 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) will be constructed in SAGY village Mathwar.
For rolling out this project, a MoU has been signed between Department of RD & PR and Idea Cellular Ltd.
While addressing the gathering, Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that it is the responsibility of the people to become stakeholders in the development of this village. This village should lead by example and become the first village in the state to be declared as open defecation free, he added.
He further said that efforts would be made to give cent percent coverage under IHHL to those panchayats who have achieved 70% target. All the households would be equipped with toilet facilities by the end of this year, the Secretary added. He said that cleanliness is a necessity and making IHHLs in every household is first step towards ensuring clean environment.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Jammu Simrandeep Singh said that we want every house hold to have toilet so that all can make use of the facilities in the privacy of their homes. He said that toilet facility is essential in maintaining hygiene and prevent diseases. He stressed organizing training and briefing sessions for the beneficiaries covered under the project to educate them about its benefits.
Among others, Director Rural Development Jammu, M L Raina, Director Rural Sanitation, Showkat Ahmad Beigh, Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development, K K Sidha, ADDC Jammu Anuradha Gupta, ACD Shokat Mehboob Malik, CSR Head, Idea Cellular ltd Nilay Ranjan, BDO Bhalwal Vipan Bhagat, Head Priest Mathwar temple Yashpal Sharma, concerned officers, sapranches, panches and local public were present on the occasion.
Similarly, a programme was also organized at village Sangwali of block Ghagwal to make Sangwali an Adarsh Panchayat.
While addressing the gathering at village Sangwali, Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that it is the collective responsibility of villagers and District administration to make this Panchayat ODF by March 31st, 2016.
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