Govt for a ''Clean Kerala disease-free Kerala''

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29 (UNI) The Kerala government with the motto of ''Clean Kerala disease free Kerala'' will observe ''clean Kerala week'' from October two for creating awareness among the people for a clean surrounding.

Kerala, which had been widely acclaimed for its health care, was now fast becoming a state of unhealthy people with more and more diseases spreading, State Health Minister P K Sreemathi and Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty told a joint press conference here.

New diseases like Chikungunya, dengue and leptospirosis (rat fever) were spreading in the state due to unclean surroundings, Mr Kutty said and added that the awareness campaign had been initiated with an aim to educate the people on a clean surrounding.

Diseases could not be controlled by increasing the number of hospitals or doctors but only a clean surrounding would help in containing it, he said.

The Union Government had agreed to give Rs 60-70 lakh for each district on account of its ''clean drive programme'', Mr Kutty said and asked the panchayats to utilise the amount sanctioned to them and also to come out with a project on this. The programme should be included in the annual project of the panchayats and also in the 11th plan, he added.

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