Matha will be 'open defecation free'

In picture - A sanitation toilet and sheet outside a household in 'Matha village' of Baghmundi Block, Purulia.

Matha is a tribal village in Baghmundi Block of Purulia. As an effort to promote sanitation coverage in this panchayat and district which has low levels of sanitation coverage, gram panchayat and district administration had resolved to make Matha as 'open defecation free' i.e. all households in this panchayat will have sanitation facilities and will be using it. If it happens, it will be the first panchayat in the district to achieve that status. The family in picture had bought the sanitary toilet and the sheet by paying One hundred rupees whereas district administration had added a subsidy of Rupees five hundred twenty as it costed Rs 620 for the basic toilet. Village motivators - women from self help groups are going house to house to motivate families to install sanitation facilities in their houses while district has also undertaken information campaigns including painting messages across walls of panchayat and houses to promote sanitation.