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Gandhigram Trust to create healthy villages

K. Raju

— Photo: G. Karthikeyan

Recognition: R. Kousalya Devi, Managing Trustee, Gandhigram Trust, right, giving away the Khaitan award to N. Markandan, former Vice-Chancellor, Gandhigram Rural University, on Tuesday.

GANDHIGRAM: The Gandhigram Trust has also launched a project to create ‘healthy villages’ through implementation of solid waste management.

Initially, the ‘Improvement of Rural Health Through Waste Management Techniques Project’ will be implemented at Alamarathupatti, Ambathurai, Kalikkampatti, Seevalsaragu and Pachamalayankottai villages in Dindigul district at a cost of Rs.17.34 lakh.

According to M.R. Rajagopalan, secretary, waste management technologies such as vermin-compost, backyard farming, community toilet attached with bio-gas plant, soak pits, wetland filter and fodder cultivation and wasteland management will be implemented with community participation.

While compost production, backyard vegetable garden and fodder cultivation will offer additional income to people, recycled waste water will help them irrigate vegetable gardens and in fodder cultivation. Bio-gas plant attached with community toilet will be used to run a diesel engine to pump drinking water, a step to scale down electricity bills of panchayat. The trust has plans to make two panchayats eligible for Nirmal Puraskar Award.

Gandhigram Rural University’s former Vice-Chancellor N. Markandan was honoured with Khaitan Award for his self-less service at the anniversary celebration of Gandhigram Trust here on Tuesday evening.

The Managing Trustee R. Kousalya Devi presented the award to Dr. Markandan. Aravind Hospital Chairman, P. Namperumalswamy spoke.

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