Journalism of Courage
TO ENSURE toilets in every house in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, the district administration has launched ‘Kishoriyon Ki Zid’ campaign, under which girls would not celebrate any festival, including the upcoming Rakshabandhan, until their families get a toilet constructed in their houses.
The administration is trying to make girls aware of the importance of toilets and would also teach them ways to assert themselves before their family members.
Varanasi District Magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand has appealed to all guardians, especially the men, to gift their sisters toilets so that their honour can be protected. The sanitation awareness campaign is aimed to promote construction and use of toilets in villages under the Swachh Bharat Mission, he said.
“A committee under the chief development officer has been set up to supervise the campaign, which will be run in all eight blocks of the district. Anganwadi staff will create awareness among girls about importance of toilets. They will also be asked to associate the need for toilets with their self-respect and hygiene…” he added.
Under the programme, girls would be asked not to celebrate Rakshabandhan and or any other festival until toilets are constructed in their houses. Also, they would be urged not to marry into a family where there is no toilet in the house.
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“The administration will also felicitate and give financial reward to brothers who will get best-equipped and cleanest toilet construct for their sisters. Likewise, the village pradhan, who would get maximum toilets constructed in their villages with social participation and using government money, will be rewarded. Masons who will construct the maximum number of toilets will also be given cash reward. While brothers will be awarded Rs 25,000, pradhans will get Rs 10,000 and masons Rs 5,000,” said the DM.
The campaign would be run in schools too, where ‘Kashi Ki Baal Sena’ will be set up to spread awareness on the campus. Students of Class VIII will become members of the sena in each school. “Sanitation vans will be sent to schools for organising camps on sanitation and hygiene,” said Anand.
