January 9, 2019
Bankura becomes top ODF district in India
Bankura has ranked first among the 412 districts, covering the 25 States and union territories, in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) contest organised by the Centre in connection with World Toilet Day (November 19). The contest was held from November 9 to 19, 2018.
There were in fact two districts from Bangla in the top ten. Murshidabad bagged the 9th position. Cooch Behar district received a special mention.
It may be mentioned that Mission Nirmal Bangla was announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee before the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Accordingly, the Panchayats and Rural Development Department had taken special drives to make the districts ODF.
Nadia became country’s first ODF district, for which project it received the United Nations Public Service Award.
Massive campaigns were launched by the department. Senior officials of the department visited the districts to oversee the work and surprise visits were conducted. Teams were set up in the districts that urged the people to use toilets and not defecate in the open. To ensure a grassroots reach, folk artistes performed in the campaigns as well.
Source: Millennium Post
