District Magistrate of Nadia long with Sabhapati of Nadia Zilla Parishad in West Bengal was on Saturday conferred with United Nations Public Services Award 2015 for eliminating open defecation in the district.
Nadia district located in south Bengal had half of its population defecating in open till October 2013. The district administration under a programme called Sabar Souchagar built 3,56,000 toilets in the district and by April 2012 the number of people continuing with the practice dropped to 0.2 per cent only.
“The award was presented by acting Secretary General of the UN Lenni Montiel along with Head UN Women Stefani Senese, on conclusion of United Nations Day Celebrations 2015, on June 26 at Medellin, Republic of Columbia,” District Magistrate P. B. Salim told The Hindu over email.
Along with Mr Salim, Banikumar Roy, Sabhadhipathi, Nadia Zilla Parishad was also present at the event.
The United Nations has described Sabar Shouchagar (Toilets for All) as a “unique model developed to generate awareness, improve access to sanitary toilets, and bring substantial health improvement through improved sanitation”.
The UN has also added that the scheme has mobilised all stake holders “especially women and school children and involvement of faith based organisation” and “if replicated, it has the potential to eliminate open defecation from across the world”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on April 30, 2015, held a programme at Nadia district highlighting the success of the scheme and announced that ‘Nirmal Bangla Divas’ will be observed across the State every year.
