Rs 304 crore to construct toilets

Hyderabad, July 19: Alarmed by the survey report of the Centre of economic studies, Unicef, the Central government geared up to transform the newly formed Telangana State as 100 % open defecation-free State. The survey revealed that about 60 % of families do not have toilets in rural areas in Telangana State. And they even today practice open defecation. The Centre decided to construct 2.5 lakh toilets in the present financial year under WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) programme, through Society for Eradication of Rural Poverty (SERP). Also, awareness programmes will be conducted for the people about personal hygiene. Following the Centre's directives, SERP officials prepared a plan of action with an expenditure of about Rs 304 crore. Arrangements were made to implement WASH in 1,000 villages in the first phase. Under this WASH programme, grama samakhyas will create awareness among the villagers on open defecation and directs that each family should construct one toilet within the stipulated period. SERP will give Rs 1,200 for the construction of each toilet through grama samakhya and vigilance committees will monitor the construction and usage of the toilets.