Malda campaigns for sanitation across district

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 JULY: The Malda district administration has started a campaign for sanitation across the district from 21 July. The programme will continue up to 31 July. At present, Malda is in 14th position in the state.

A combination of three teams are working in each gram panchayat across the district, projecting the new sanitation project where the government has allotted a subsidy of Rs 2,200 to each beneficiary (belonging to the BPL category) for the construction of a latrine. Earlier the rate of subsidy was only Rs 320.

The members of SHGs will function in this project as motivators and they will be getting remuneration. A total of 1.5 lakh SHG members are working as motivators in all 146 gram panchayats of this district at present.

“One motivator will be getting Rs 50 if he can collect Rs 300 for the construction of a latrine from a BPL family. When the beneficiary is able to deposit Rs 300 to their respective gram panchayat pradhan, the government will allot Rs 2,200 in subsidy for the construction of the latrine with the help of selected NGOs at their home,” said Mr Kajal Banerjee, the additional district magistrate, Malda zilla parishad (MZP).

“This Total Sanitation campaigning programme has evoked a significant response in the district for the first time,” Mr Banerjee, also additional executive officer, said.The administration has been campaigning for BPL family members and registered labourers to receive the 100-days job under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), after which they could easily pay Rs 300 for a sanitation project. The additional executive officer has planned to organise an open session on Total Sanitation campaigning on 15 August, seeking permission from the higher authorities.