Modi lauds villages for hygiene milestone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday praised two villages in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for taking initiatives to make themselves free of open defecation and setting an example for others under the ‘Swachh Bharat’ movement.

During his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat, Modi mentioned how villagers in a small district of Bijnour in Uttar Pradesh had returned Rs1.8 million (Dh102,537) to the government, which had been sanctioned for the construction of toilets.

“I am surprised and at the same time happy to see the way people of Mubarakpur, a small Muslim village in Uttar Pradesh, have made their village ODF (Open Defecation Free). Though they got the government aid of Rs1.8 million to construct toilets, they returned it,” said Modi.

Record smashed

Modi also appreciated the villagers of Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh where they had set a record by setting up 10,000 toilets in 100 hours in 71 villages.

“Recently I came across a wonderful incident. This happened in the Vizianagaram district where its administration undertook a huge task with people’s participation. From 6am on March 10, until 10am of March 14, the administration and the people together constructed 10,000 toilets in hundred hours successfully, making 71 villages ODF,” said Modi.

Praising the people, Modi said that these were very inspiring examples. Five states have been declared ODF, the latest ones being Uttrakhand and Haryana.