Bankura DM receives best ODF certificate in Mumbai

Kolkata: District Magistrate Bankura Uma Sankar S on Thursday received the certificate after being adjudged the best Open Defecation Free (ODF) district in the country.

The award was handed over in Mumbai by Akshay Kumar, who has become the face of the campaign after the success of his film 'Toilet Ek Prem Katha' that dealt with this very subject. Bankura has ranked first among 412 districts organised by the Centre in connection with the World Toilet Day. The Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation had organised a nation-wide contest to select the best ODF district in the country from November 9 to 19, 2018. Accordingly, 412 districts from 25 states and union territories had taken part in the contest. The result of the contest was announced by the ministry in the first week of January.

It may be mentioned that Mission Nirmal Bangla was announced much before Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative announced by the Prime Minister on October 2, 2014. Accordingly, the Panchayat and Rural Development department had taken special drives to make the districts ODF. Nadia became the country's first ODF district.

Massive campaigns were launched by the Panchayat and Rural Development department in this regard. Senior officials of the department visited the districts to oversee the work and surprise visits were also conducted.

Teams were set up in the districts that urged people to use toilet and not defecate in the open.

Folk artistes performed in the campaigns as well.