‘Media equally responsible in solving sanitation problems’

Krishna Udupudi, zilla panchayat CEO, speaking at the media workshop on sanitation in Koppal on Wednesday.

D.G. Lakshman, journalist, while expressing concern over the failure of building a ‘Swachch Bharat’ even after 67 years of independence, said that everyone, including the media, was responsible in helping to eradicate open defecation.

Speaking at a day-long workshop for media on sanitation, organised by the Communication for Development and Learning (CDL) in association with UNICEF and the zilla panchayat here on Wednesday, he pointed out that the problem of open defecation haunted even well developed cities like Bengaluru. He wanted the media to highlight the ill-effects of open defecation with facts and figures to create awareness among the public to eradicate the menace.

Reports on sanitation need not necessarily be negative. Priority should also be given to success stories, he stressed.

Krishna Udupudi, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat, in his inaugural address, said that priority was accorded to construct individual toilets and efforts were on to construct one lakh toilets under the Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan.

Ramaswamy Krishnan, UNICEF Advisor to the State, said that of every 10 persons worldwide indulging in open defecation, six were Indians.