By Our Reporter
Shillong: The increasing number of villages receiving the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) Award indicates the State is on track to meet its target as far as cleanliness and proper sanitation is concerned.
From 52 villages last year, around 160 villages in the State, of which 89 are from Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts, qualified for the parameters set in the NGP guidelines during the financial year 2010-11 enabling them to receive the NGP Award 2010.
East Khasi Hills district bagged the highest number of awards amongst the three districts with 57 out of the total 89 villages receiving the honour from the area. Ri-Bhoi followed with 29 villages and Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills had two and one villages respectively in the awards list.
In tune with this achievement, awards were distributed to the 89 villages at a special function held at U Soso Tham Auditorium here on Friday. The awards, scheduled to be presented by Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, were distributed by PHE Minister, Shitlang Pale who attended the function as the chief guest, as the former was absent due to ill health.
Delivering the acceptance address on behalf of East Khasi Hills District, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said, “From five awards in the previous year, the district has achieved 11 times more this time accounting to a total of 57 awards.”
There has been an increase of 68 per cent in individual latrines for East Khasi Hills, 61 per cent for providing toilets for schools and 85 per cent increase as far as baby-friendly toilets are concerned, he added.
Instituted in 2003, the award is given to districts with full sanitation coverage and an open defecation-free environment. The Centrally-sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign was taken up by all the seven districts of the State implemented with a demand driven mode involving local villagers in various activities facilitating them to create hygienic rural environment.
