Rs 10L reward to bride who chose toilet over jewellery

A Maharashtra bride who got a “toilet” as her wedding gift from her <g data-gr-id="37">kin</g> as she preferred it over jewellery will now be given a reward of Rs 10 lakh by a sanitation NGO for taking a stand on the issue.

Inspired by the ‘Swachch Bharat <g data-gr-id="34">Abhiyaan</g>’, the woman from Akola district insisted on a toilet in her in-laws’ house, placing basic sanitation needs much ahead of other wedding presents.

Lauding the inspiring step by Chaitali <g data-gr-id="23">Galakhe</g> of <g data-gr-id="24">Andura</g> village in Balapur tehsil of Akola district, Sulabh International on Sunday announced Rs 10 lakh award for her.

While making the announcement, mentor of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak termed <g data-gr-id="35">Galakhe</g> as <g data-gr-id="30">a <g data-gr-id="36">inspirer</g></g> and messenger of sanitation. Pathak saw it as an impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign which motivates common people towards <g data-gr-id="29">need</g> of sanitation.

He announced to honour her soon with ‘Sulabh Sanitation Award’ carrying a cheque of Rs 10 lakh. “I see it as an achievement of Modi when his government is completing one year in office,” Dr Pathak said.

<g data-gr-id="40">Galakhe</g> got married to Devendra <g data-gr-id="41">Makode</g> from a village in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district. Those who attended her marriage on May 15 at <g data-gr-id="42">Andura</g> village in Akola were surprised to see a new item on display, along with other usual household articles which form part of the articles given by parents/ relatives of the bride to her during the wedding.

Standing tall along with other items was a toilet. The pre-fabricated toilet with a water closet, a <g data-gr-id="38">wash-basin</g> and mirror standing around one foot above the ground, was the cynosure of all eyes at the event. . "Five days after my marriage was fixed, I came to know that there is no toilet at my in-laws' house," <g data-gr-id="39">Galakhe</g> said.