Dhumal urges grass-root groups to boost sanitation campaign

Shimla, Feb 28 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal exhorted the Panchayati Raj Institutions, NGOs and public in general to cooperate in the "Total Sanitation Campaign" being undertaken in the state.

The Chief Minister was addressing the members of Panchayati Raj Institutions of Kangra district on the inaugural ceremony of the two-day workshop on "Total Sanitation Campaign" in the district organised by the District Rural Development Agency in collaboration with the World Sanitation Campaign at Dharamshala today.

"Unhygienic conditions have been responsible in giving birth to various dreaded ailments as there are over 260 crore people in the world who are in the habit of open defecation. The figure in our country also stood at about 70 crore which is alarming for the country with a population of over 100 crore," he said.

The Panchyats, NGO and social workers could play pivotal role in creation of mass awareness about the benefits of total sanitation campaign, he said, adding that all such organisations needed to encourage the people to construct toilets in their homes for controlling the hazards of open defection.

UNI XC PS JS1836