Deepika face of state sanitation department

RANCHI: Parents of archer Dipika Kumari, who is named the brand ambassador for state's sanitation department, received a cheque of Rs 4.62 lakh from Chief Minister Hemant Soren for the construction of public toilet in their village in the city on the occasion of World Toilet Day organized by the state drinking water and sanitation department and Unicef.
Construction of public and household toilets in the villages will soon be brought under the purview MGNREGA. This has been done to improve the poor condition of state's sanitation system.
The state which has only 8% of its population using toilets for defecation, suffers from malnutrition and other cleanliness related diseases. The drinking water and sanitation department of the state has launched a plan for constructing 1.5 lakhs toilets by March 2014.
At the event additional chief secretary Sudhir Prasad on Wednesday said, "Toilets will be constructed in eight villages in the city, including Hutup and others, within three months. We started the open defecation-free villages programme in Gadri and Hutar as an experiment. After its success we are planning to implement it throughout the state."
State director for Unicef Job Zakaria said, "We have a plan to construct 60 lakh toilets by 2022 with the help of revolving fund provided by the state. The people in the state are suffering from diseases because of their habits and lack of awareness about sanitation. With the help of revolving fund, our work of constructing toilets in villages has become much simpler. I hope this scheme will continue even after the government changes."
Soren said, "Though there are enough funds for the construction of household and public toilets, we lag behind because people here are unaware. Also, we have planned to remove VAT from rural pan so that toilets can be constructed at every village in the state. From now onwards provision for toilets in Indira Awas will be mandatory."
Speaking at the event, minister Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, said, "I agree that the condition should improve and for that the department is working with Unicef. Drinking water project for Ulahatu village where Birsa Munda took birth will soon be launched. Under the 'Nirmal Bharat scheme', the department is using the revolving fund for better results and for the construction of toilets. About 80% fund is provided by the department and 20% by the panchayat." The government has a plan that by 2017 each house of the state will have their own toilets and proper drinking water facility.