SHILLONG: South West Khasi (SWK) District, is one of the 12 winning districts from across the country recognised for the National Toilet Day activities conducted between 9th-19th November 2018 and the district received the award from the Swacch Bharat Brand Ambassador, Akshay Kumar.
The award was given to Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo during a short meeting with the ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ actor at Mumbai on Wednesday in presence of Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Parameshwaran Iyer and DG, SBM (G) Shri Akshay Rout.
Akshay Kumar heard about the experiences encountered by the DMs/CEOs on the field regarding efforts to bring about ODF and talked about his passion to bring about an end to the stigma associated with sanitation practices.
The actor’s commitment to taking up women-centric issues and taboo topics concerning women’s health and sanitation to the big screen was very inspiring. He spoke about his continued efforts to spread awareness on Twin Pit Toilet, ODF, etc., after the making of the film ‘Toilet’.
Activities conducted under the National Toilet Day celebrations in the district included a number of community and village-level events like Cleaning drives, rallies, IEC and awareness programmes targeted to sensitise and raise awareness about public sanitation, increasing use of twin pit toilets, and bringing about behavioural change, fostering ground level action on promoting cleanliness and healthy solid and liquid waste management.
One activity called the ‘Walk and Pick’ urged upon people to take a responsible stance against public littering, and showing the way forward by picking up litter even as they go about their daily walks/ commutes.
“This achievement belongs to the entire SBM team of South West Khasi Hills and the enthusiastic, hard-working Village Water and Sanitation communities of the district. The District Swacch Bharat Mission team is motivated to work harder to bring about improved practices and behaviour change in respect of sanitation, cleanliness and waste management throughout the district and state,” Laloo said.