In continuation to the nationwide Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) campaign, a Swachhta porgramnme was today organised at Government Higher Secondary School Kootah in Sub Division Hiranagar.The programme was inaugurated by MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj and Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar by flagging off Swachhta rally. The rally comprising of students of various government and private schools passed through the village lanes. The students were holding placards with messages about the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene. On the occasion a symposium on the topic Swachhta was also organized where students from Middle and Higher Secondary School Kootah and adjoining schools threw light on the cleanliness and its advantages for healthy life.Speaking on the occasion, the DC informed that series of activities, programmes and IEC campaigns have been initiated in the district by the Rural Development Department in collaboration with other departments under Swatch Bharat mission. The DC stressed upon dissemination of information to spread awareness among all stakeholders about the personal hygiene besides cleanliness in surroundings. "The objective of Swachh Bharat Mission is to improve quality of life by promoting hygiene and eliminating open defecation," he added. He said government has set 2019 deadline to make the state free from open defecation and stressed on the need for bringing about attitudinal change among the people who are the major stakeholders in this noble task.
While highlighting the initiatives of the district administration regarding Swachh bharat mission, he informed that Mandli block will be the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) block of the District Kathua wherein the task of 2624 toilets has been undertaken to cover the uncovered households by constructing Individual Household Toilets( IHHL) under SBM and MGNREGA.The DC also informed that targets have been fixed for BDOs under which they are assigned to make two panchayats Open Defecation Free (ODF) in every block by the end of current financial year. He said the task of constructing IHHL units shall be done on war footing.Earlier a healthy group discussion was organized on ‘Cleanliness and Healthy Living’ where members of civil society and prominent citizens discussed the opting of innovative ideas to spread the message of cleanliness among the people.On the occasion a pledge taking ceremony on cleanliness was also held. ACD Kathua Dr Sunil Sharma, DPO Parveen Kumar, BDO Hiranagar and other officers of line department were present.