Four Panchayats in Bihar get Nirmal Gram Award

Patna, Mar 11 (UNI) For the first time, four Panchayats of Bihar have been selected for the prestigious 'Nirmal Gram Award' instituted by the Centre for succesfully implementing the 'Total Sanitation Campaign' (TSC).

State Public Health Engineering Secretary Arun Kumar Singh said here today that Goitha Panchayat under Banke Bazar block area, Baraki Chilami Panchayat under Amas block area (both Gaya district), Bhaganpur Panchayat under Mushahari block area in Muzaffarpur district and Maile Panchayat under Biddupur block area in Vaishali district had been selected for the award.

Nirmal Gram Award was instituted by the Department of Drinking Water Supply at the Centre in 2003.

The award was given to Panchayats when they meet criteria like cent per cent sanitary toilet coverage and use in houses, schools and Anganwadi centres, no open defecation and a general cleanliness and hygiene.

The award would be given this year by President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam at a function in New Delhi on March 23.

Each Panchayat would get cash award of Rs four lakhs.

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