Date:22/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/22/stories/2006092208020200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Artistes' groups to campaign on hygiene

Staff Reporter

Twenty five groups to take part in the campaign

Zilla Parishad Chairperson flags off `kalajathas'
They will visit all the villages in the district

The artistes will be paid Rs. 250 per day

ANANTAPUR: Zilla Parishad Chairperson T. Kavitha has stressed the need for creation of awareness among public on personal hygiene and sanitation for a healthy society.

She flagged off `kala jathas,' groups of artistes, sponsored jointly by the UNICEF, the Rural Water Supply and the Information and Public Relations departments here on Wednesday.

The groups would visit all the villages in the district and create awareness on personal hygiene and cleanliness of surroundings through various folk art forms.

The campaign on sanitation would not only create awareness but would also help the artistes get employment as they would be paid a daily wage of Rs. 250.

Ms. Kavitha told the artistes to create awareness for 100 per cent utilisation of individual sanitary latrines constructed in villages, utilisation of toilets in schools and regular maintenance of drainages.

The cultural groups would also create awareness on Nirmal Gram Puraskar.

Coordinator of UNICEF activities in the district U. Mallikarjunappa said they had been creating awareness on sanitation and personal hygiene in schools and anganwadi centres.

Still a majority of villagers were not aware of the benefits of following personal hygiene and maintaining cleanliness, he said.

The `kalajathas' — 25 groups — would take up the campaign from October 4.

District Education Officer P. Krishnamacharyulu, Project Director of ICDS Chinmaya Devi and others spoke.