Date:14/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111453870300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Award for 98 villages

Staff Reporter

“All 18 blocks in Tiruvannamalai have won at least one award”

Nirmal Gram Puraskar for “outstanding implementation” of Total Sanitation Programme
Award to be given by President Pratibha Patil at a function to be held on December 8 in Pune

Tiruvannamalai: Ninety eight village panchayats in Tiruvannamalai district have won Nirmal Gram Puraskar for “outstanding implementation” of the Total Sanitation Programme.

Collector M. Rajendran said in a statement here on Wednesday that the award was being given to the villages that achieved the target of assisting all households in having a separate toilet, apart from executing all works pertaining to maintaining public hygiene, toilets in Anganwadi centers and schools, village sanitary complex, safe drinking water, sewage clearing and solid waste management.

“The Total Sanitation Programme is being implemented all over India and the villages were selected for the award based on the report of a Central panel, which visited the villages and made an assessment,” Mr. Rajendran said.

Presidents of these village panchayats would receive the award from President Pratibha Patil at a function to be held on December 8 in Pune.

All 18 blocks in the district had won at least one award, Mr. Rajendran said.

Eleven villages in Vembakkam block got the awards, followed by Vandavasi and Thellar, with 10 each.