IndiaCSR News Network
Also Read: India Sanitation Summit ‘ Sanitation for All – Toilet First’, Feb 6, 2015, New Delhi
BANGALORE: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H K Patil, said the state government has decided to construct over 10 lakh toilets during the current financial year.
He said that the government had pledged to make Karnataka free from open defecation by 2018.
There are over 50 lakh families that do not have toilets in the State, Mr. Patil said, quoting a survey. He claimed that over 5.05 lakh toilets had been constructed during 2013, against the targeted six lakh toilets, despite the election code of conduct being in place for over three months.
Mr. Patil told reporters here that the State government had decided to set up five SATCOM sub-centres in Bangalore, Davangere, Dharwad, Mangalore and Gulbarga, at a cost of Rs. 2.37 crore. Except Gulbarga, all centres are ready to start functioning.
The government has released Rs. 4.5 crore to build a panchayat resource centre in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development in Jakkur, Bangalore. Mr. Patil said that a gram panchayat (GP) from each taluk had been identified for Gandhi Grama Puraskar Award and over 160 panchayats have been selected for the awards.
The gram panchayats that have excelled in collection of revenues, revision and collection of taxes, and organising different standing committee meetings have been selected for the awards. They would be given a cash reward of Rs. 5 lakh at a function in Bangalore on October 2, he said.
Mr. Patil said the government was planning to provide a comprehensive training programme, particularly in computers, to those who contest the next gram panchayat elections.
