NCC cadets in Purulia to push sanitation awareness

NCC, in partnership with UNICEF and district administration would promote sanitation coverage, hygiene practices, and construction and use of toilets in Purulia district of WB. At present, only 10 per cent of households in Purulia have toilets..

SHEKH REHAN from village Suklara and his colleague cadet Soumen Sharangi of village Bamunidha, and Umarani Mahato of village Ankro in the Purulia district of West Bengal, all seems charged to support district’s administration efforts to promote sanitation coverage, hygiene practices and most importantly, construction and use of toilets. This is important as these cadets can help add a momentum to the total sanitation drive and can push the sanitation coverage needed in the district.

This is a part of special drive being undertaken by National Cadets Corps (NCC) cadets with support from UNICEF office for West Bengal. State of West Bengal is doing well on sanitation and has about 76 per cent of sanitation (toilet) coverage in the state, which is higher than the national average. However, within the state, districts like Purulia have low level of toilet coverage. Only 10 per cent of households in Purulia as of now have toilets.

In order to create an environment of change for the present situation, NCC in partnership with UNICEF and district administration has taken up the challenge and they hope to push awareness on sanitation and hygiene within the district. An inaugural event to start this drive was held on last Sunday at JK College in Purulia district headquarters. Speaking at the inaugural function, Bilasibala Sahis, Purulia’s sabhadipati (panchayat’s district head) lauded this initiative of NCC and urged the cadets to come forward and adopt a gram panchayat near their college and support districts drive to increase sanitation.

Commanding officer NCC in Purulia, AK Das said that cadets have taken upon themselves to build awareness on sanitation within communities in the district. As a first step, many of them who do not have toilets in their home are being motivated to get toilets in their homes and spread the need of hygiene and sanitation near their households. 210 cadets from 13 colleges and 11 schools of Purulia are participating in this campaign on sanitation.