With
edutainment activities like puppet show, street play and magic show in
villages, the West Bengal
government and UNICEF has launched a campaign to educate people about safe
drinking water and safe sanitation practises.
Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said the
campaign is meant to generate demand for improved water supply in unreached
habitations and gradually provide access to piped water supply for all by 2020.
"We are trying to create awareness
in the communities about the importance of safe drinking water and the
maintenance of water sources as well as the need to get their water tested at
facilities nearest to their homes," he said adding that the government remains
committed to eliminate open defecation by 2017. The week-long campaign will be
observed from Feb 20th-25th across all the districts, blocks and gram
panchayats.
Various
edutainment activities like street play, magic show, puppet show, motivational
songs, skits, performances by local artists, etc will be organised during the
Grameen Mela in each block to educate people on safe practises related with
sanitation and water.
"Inadequate
access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene
practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to
impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more. Without WASH
(water, sanitation and hygiene), sustainable development is impossible,"
said Asadur Rahman, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF West Bengal.