Okkapara village declared ‘open defecation free’

TURA: District Water & Sanitation mission, West Garo Hills, celebrated the open defecation free status of Okkapara village under Betasing C&RD Block under the Swachh Bharat Mission during a function in South West Garo Hills.
Taking privilege of declaring the village as 100 per cent open defecation free, Chief Guest of the occasion, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister, Zenith M Sangma stressed on the need for cleanliness as a pre requisite for living.
While congratulating the villagers for their collective hard work and commitment Sangma urged them to strive for not only clean but green villages. He said that the time has come for people in the rural or urban areas to become environmentally conscious.
He lamented that greenery is confined only to the habited areas whereas the hills and forests are becoming barren. He urged people to conserve greenery, especially in the catchment areas.
Earlier in his address, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi said that Okkapara is the first village to be declared as open defecation free after being given training by World Bank with the women’s Self Help Groups at the forefront of the movement.
He urged the people to partner with the government which is spending money to motivate the people to keep the surroundings clean.