Madhya Pradesh: Dhera village becomes open-defecation free

Bhopal, Mar 28: In a step towards improved hygiene under the Centre's ambitious 'Swachh Bharat Mission', Dhera village in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district has become open defecation free (ODF) with toilets now having been constructed in all houses there.

Dhera is the native village of state Public Relations and Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla. To mark the achievement, a 'Gaurav Yatra' was taken out in the village today in which Shukla, too, took part, a release here said.

"It is a memorable occasion as toilets have been built in all households in the village," Shukla said. The minister asked villagers to use toilets and called for continuous monitoring by vigilance teams set up for the purpose to ensure there is no open defecation.

He also said that the village lake will be beautified and agricultural fields in the Dhera Gram panchayat will be irrigated through the 'Nai Garhi' micro irrigation project.

Shukla further announced that a boundary wall would be constructed for the higher secondary school campus while the local primary school building would undergo renovation, the release added.

PTI