State to become free from open defecation next march

Karnataka will become free from open defecation by March 2018, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.

Speaking at the "Gandhi Gram Puraskar" award function in the city, the chief minister said that Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Bengaluru Rural districts and Bengaluru have already been declared free from open defecation. As many as 1,937 gram panchayats were declared free from open defecation at the programme held at the Palace Grounds.

“This year Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar, Shivamogga, Mandya and Ramanagara have been added to the list of open defecation free districts. This includes 51 taluks, 1,937 gram panchayats and 10,340 villages,"  Siddaramaiah said.

He said zilla panchayat presidents and officials should shoulder the responsibility making Karnataka free from open defecation by March next year. "The post of the zilla panchayat president is now equivalent to that of a Cabinet minister. Moreover, honorarium has also been fixed for them."

Gandhi Gram Puraskar was conferred on 176 gram panchayats which have successfully executed rural development rojects. The award carries a purse of Rs 5 lakh.