Our programme attracted attention nationwide

       It's very happy event for us. 'Intinta Parishudhyam', our flagship programme of constructing toilets for clean environment, attracted the secretaries of Drinking water and Sanitation of all states, in the Conference of State Ministers and secretaries of Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, held in New Delhi, on 24th May,2012. The conference was inaugurated by the Minister of Rural Development and Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Sri Jairam Ramesh. The aim of the Conference was to up-scale achievements and share innovative best practices and models, both in terms of programme implementation and technology.  

         As a result of our programme, I was invited to participate in the meeting to explain the programme, which I did in an effective manner. Addressing the meeting, the Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vilasini Ramachandran said that there is need for taking up the sanitation issues on a mission mode fashion. She underlined that the role of women self help groups is very important both in terms of creating awareness and achieving the target of total sanitation. She also laid stress on the IEC( Information, Education and Communication) campaign to create real demands for individual household latrines, which we are already doing. 

      Now the name of the 'Total Sanitation Campaign' changed to 'Nirmal Bharath Abhiyan'. The central government is planning to enhance the unit cost to 9,900 from the present Rs.4,500.