Punjab to observe freedom from open defecation week

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government will carry out a week-long awareness campaign “Freedom from Open Defecation” from August 9, said water supply and sanitation minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Friday.

The minister said comedians and film actors Jaswinder Bhalla and Binnu Dhillon would be associated with the “Mission Swachh and Swasth Punjab” as brand ambassadors for the programme in the state.

During the week-long programme, the state government will carry out awareness programmes across the state against ill-effects of open defecation through mass media, folk drama and folk performance, street theatre etc.

Puppet shows, video vans, and also fairs and exhibitions, besides interpersonal communication programmes, seminars and student rallies are also part of the programme.

The department, in collaboration with school education department, will organise competitions at the district-level on slogan writing, declamation contest, painting, drawing competition and poetry writing and recitation competition in schools and colleges.

The minister said a mass plantation drive would be organised on August 9 across the state by the department with the assistance of the forest department. Saplings will be planted at 8,000 water works in the rural areas, he said. He added it was hoped that the residents will give full support to the government.

THE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A MASS PLANTATION DRIVE ON AUGUST 9