Government contemplating total sanitation campaign: CM

IMPHAL, Jan 17 : The state government is contemplating launching a total sanitation drive by motivating communities and Panchayati Raj institutions to evolve sanitation goals.

Promotion of sustainable sanitation facilities and creating awareness through health education are some of the main tasks the government has been taking up to achieve target of total sanitation in the state by the year 2012.

This was stated by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh this morning during the award distribution ceremony of Nirmal Gram Puraskar which was held at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.

It was organized by Communication and Capacity Development Unit, Lamphelpat, PHED, Manipur.

The chief minister further stated that lack of awareness amongst the general public particularly in remote area is the main factor in hampering total sanitation campaign which the government is eying to fulfilled by the year 2012.

He further stated that the government is providing assistance towards construction of low cost latrine to both BPL and APL families.

The chief minister also called upon people not to give any kind of disturbances in developmental project.

He also said that people should rather extend support and cooperation to the government towards implementation of development programmes and projects.

The state PHE minister T.N. Haokip, who presided the function also appealed to the people especially those who are living in the rural areas to have proper information and knowledge about Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) which was launched by the Indian government to make the country a total sanitation by the year 2012.

The chief minister formally distributed the Nirmal Gram Puraskar award, 2009 for the state of Manipur to Laishram Rishikanta of Utlou Gram Panchayat, Bishnupur District in recognition of his tireless efforts in achieving targets of the nationwide sanitation campaign.

The award carry a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh. Earlier, the award was bagged by Heisnam Subhaschandra of Maklang Gram Panchayat, Imphal West in the year 2008 for his dedication and contribution in making Manipur a total sanitation and he was also the first Manipuri to received such award.

Apart from the award ceremony today, the chief minister also distributed meritorious students who participated in the essay competition held on December 20, 2009 in connection with the Total Sanitation Campaign. The theme of the competition was “Sanitation is more important than Independence”.

Later, a book entitled ‘Water Crisis in Manipur” (A concept for Rain Water Management and Water Security) was also released today by chief minister O Ibobi Singh.