H.K. Patil, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, set Independence day as the deadline to construct toilets and provide drinking water in all government schools and anganwadis in the district.
Mr. Patil, who was here on a private visit, participated in the quarterly meeting to review the progress of the implementation of Karnataka Development Programmes held here on Saturday.
Labour Minister P.T. Parameshwar Naik, who is also in-charge Minister of the district, was in the chair.
Mr. Patil expressed grave concern over many of the government schools and anganwadi centres with no toilets. “It is a matter of serious concern that toilets have not been provided in schools and anganwadi centres, that too, when funds were available. The Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer should collect the list of schools and anganwadis without toilets and initiate all necessary steps to construct toilets and complete them by August 15,” he said.
Regarding the construction of individual household latrines in villages to make them open-defecation free by 2018, the meeting was informed that Sandur and Hosapete were chosen to make it open defecation free by 2018.
Mr. Patil directed the officials concerned to accelerate the process to ensure that all the taluks would be made open-defecation free before the deadline set.
Mr. Patil took exception to officials taking up development of playgrounds only in government schools under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and directed them to include other open areas in the rural areas and develop them as play ground.
