Centre sanctions Rs 2.33 crore to North 24 Paraganas

Barasat, Sep 28 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2.33 crore as reward to the North 24 Paraganas administration for setting up sanitary facilities and transforming 47 village panchayat areas of the district to 'Nirmal Gram' during 2006.

Speaking to newspersons here today, Zilla Parishad chief Aparna Gupta claimed that the administration had transformed another 105 villages during 2007.

''We will install at least 50,000 lavatories in more than 200 village panchayats of the district by the end of this year,'' Mrs Gupta said adding that fulfilment of the target would enable the district to be a 'Nirmal district'.

The district authorities would distribute the money rewarded by the Centre amongst the 47 panchayats during a workshop here on October two, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The workshop will be followed by a nine-day fair on health and hygiene, literacy campaign, handicrafts and handloom products, involving self-helf groups of the district.

District Magistrate Prabhat Kumar Mishra said the administration would work to motivate the rural people for their socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, sources said the administration was yet to finalise the list of those living below the poverty line as directed by the Centre.

UNI