To mark the World Toilet Day, Director of Rural Sanitation, S. Charandeep Singh, today flagged off Swacchta Run to spread the message of cleanliness and Swatchta among the public.More than 550 students & locals participated in the run flagged off from Mini stadium, Budhi South.
DDC Barnoti, Sushma Devi; BDC Barnoti, Brijeshwar Singh Indu; Sarpanches, Panches, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Danish Rasool Mir, Sahil Abrol, BDO Barnoti, Sachin, BDO Nagri, officers of Rural Sanitation and a large number of locals were also present on the occasion.
The day was commemorated to celebrate use of toilets and raise awareness among the people without access to sanitation. The focus of the function was to create awareness among the masses regarding the use of the toilet, spread awareness regarding personal hygiene, Solid Liquid Waste Management, counselling of adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene & access to sanitation which was displayed by the students of Hr. Secondary School Budhi through various performances like dance, songs on SBM, skit on importance of toilets, Nukkad Natak ,demo on hand wash , debate competition etc.
Speaking on the occasion, S. Charandeep Singh highlighted the health hazards of poor sanitation & hygiene. He said that poor sanitation was the main cause of diseases and appealed to the people to understand the health risk of open defecation.
He also talked about this year’s WTD theme of ‘Making the Invisible Visible’ and explained how inadequate sanitation leads human waste into rivers, lakes and soil, polluting underground water resources. “The problem seems to be invisible, as the water contamination happens underground.
This special day is about highlighting actions to tackle the global sanitation crisis and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2: sanitation and water for all by 2030” he added.He said “Even though India has already achieved the SDG Target 6.2 pertaining to access to safe sanitation, there was further scope for improvement and we should put in sincere efforts to achieve ODF plus status.”
Swachata Run was organised across all the Panchayats of District Kathua at Gram Panchayat level involving local heroes.The other highlights was of the day were ‘Swachhta Pledge’ by all participants at the start of the “Run”; display of banners, posters, slogans and other outdoor IEC materials of SBM(G) Phase II along the route, starting and ending the “Run” at a site of historical significance.
With the run, a signature campaign was also organized. The Students, teachers, employees were given certificates and mementos by Director Rural Sanitation, for their pro-active participation and good work done during the conduct of World Toilet Day.The function ended with the vote of thanks by Anju Devi and Baldev Singh.