NCC Cadets in Purulia to Push Sanitation Awareness

West Bengal is one of the most populous states of India and has been doing well on sanitation with about 76% of sanitation (toilet) coverage higher than the national average of 56 %. However, Purulia district lags behind dismally with only 10% of households having toilets. The district administration is working hard to increase sanitation coverage.

The NCC is the youth wing of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, working in educational institutions to groom young people into disciplined and loyal citizens. It aims to create human resource of organized, trained and motivated youth to provide leadership in all walks of life and be always available at the service of the Nation. The NCC in partnership with UNICEF and district administration has plans to push awareness on sanitation and hygiene through this programme in Purulia over the next three months. The programme will add momentum to the district administration's efforts to promote the construction and use of toilets and introduce simple hygiene practices.

A K Das, Commanding Officer, NCC in Purulia, said that cadets have taken up the challenge to build awareness on sanitation within communities in the district. As a first step many of them will motivate their own families to get toilets in their homes and spread the message of the need for hygiene and sanitation near their households.

Speaking at the function, Bilasibala Sahis, Purulia's Sabhadipati (elected district head) lauded this initiative of the NCC and urged the cadets to come forward and adopt a gram panchayat (village) near their respective institutions to support the district's drive to increase sanitation in every village.

As the function broke up, the eager babble of 210 excited young people raised hopes for a fully sanitized Purulia to new heights.