Imphal, November 26 2010: Under the total sanitation programme of the government of India, it is targeted to provide a sanitary latrine for every household by 2012, stated Y Devananda, Assistant Engineer, Public Health Engineering Department, Govt of Manipur ,Thoubal while speaking on total sanitation campaign and rural drinking water supply on the 2nd day of the Bharat Nirman Campaign at Bishnunaha community Hall, Yairipok.

As a part of the total sanitation campaign, in Thoubal district there is plan to build 23, 264 household toilets by 2012 out of which 2000 have been constructed so far, of the 395 school toilets targeted to be built, 100 have been constructed.

Y Devananada, also informed the gathering that of that of the 42 community toilet targeted to be constructed, 15 have so far been handed over to the public.

Y Devananda, was assisted by his colleague, Kh.

Sarat, who explained the working of the individual as well as community toilets with the help of models.

For the BPL, family the PHED department will build a toilet which cost ' 3000/- for just ' 300/- , informed the assistant engineer.

Also a community toilet which cost ' 2 lakh can be constructed by putting up only 20% of the cost with the central and state government bearing 60% and 20% of the cost respectively.

Y Devanada, also talked about the various programmes taken up by the PHED department to provide drinking water to rural areas specially in Thoubal district.

At present, 70% to 80% of the total household in Thoubal district has been provided safe drinking water.

Y Devanda assured the gathering that the PHED department is making all out effort to cover the whole population by judicious management of central as well as state funds.

Results of the painting competition, which was held as a part of the three-day Bharat Nirman Campaign, organized by the Press Information Bureau Imphal together with sister organizations at Bishnunaha community hall Yairpok in Thoubal District were declared today.

Moirangthem Tarun Class V Roll No.39 of Memorial Model Academy got the first prize.

.NDeeparani Devi Class V Roll No.46 of Maria Montessori School bagged second position while the third position went to Maibam Wilso Class V Roll No.44 of Memorial Model Academy.

They will get cash prize of ' 2000, ' 1500 and ' 1000 prizes respectively.

The theme of the competition was sanitation.

Consolation prize winners were Ch.

Shitaljit, Thangjam Somokanta and Thangjam Pradeepkumar all of Memorial Model Academy.

Each of them will get ' 200 .

In the free medical camp, which was run 261 persons were treated break up being 66 male and 195 female.

'Mid day meal an incentive to attend school'

Mid day meal scheme is one of the most important programme among the flagship programme under the grand edifice of the Bharat Nirman Campaign of the UPA government.

Introduced as part of the Sarva Shikha Abhiyan, SSA, the scheme aims to provide nutritious food to school children, which in turns acts as an incentive for them to attend school.

S Tomba Singh, Zonal Education officer, Thoubal District, spoke on various aspects of the mid day meal programme as part of the Bharat Nirman Campaign at the Bishnunaha Community Hall, Yairipok.

The mid day meal programme was started in the year 1995 where every school going child was given 3kg per month.

Taking into consideration the various factors, a policy decision was taken to provide cooked food from Sept 14, 2004 .

Under the mid day meal, every child in the lower primary stage (1-5 standard) today receives cooked food at the rate of 100 gm per day while a child in the higher primary stage (6-8standard) gets cooked food at the rate of 150 gm per day.

The cook which appointed under the mid day meal by the school gets ' 1500/- per month out of which the center pays ' 900/- while the state pays ' 600/- .

The rice for the mid day meal is requisitioned from the FCI by the DC of the concerned district which is then allocated to particular schools through the district education officer.

The Fund for the scheme comes through the Commissioner, Edn (S) to the Ed (dir) and finally to the school Management and Development Committee, SMDC of a particular school.

S Tomba Singh, ZEO did not paint a rosy picture when it comes to the state of mid day meal programme in Thoubal district.

According to him most of the schools have failed to provide utilization certificate of the funds disbursed from Nov 2009 till date, despite repeated reminders.

During the interaction many in the audience expressed the fear that funds meant for the programme might have been misused which could be a reason for non submission of utilization certificate.

The ZEO in his reply appealed to the SMDCs to submit the utilization certificate so as not to cause any hindrances to future fund flow.

He also appealed to the general public for their cooperation so as to make the programme a success the benefit accrue to the children who needs it the most.

Thoubal District Has 50 PHSCs

On the second day of the three-day Bharat Nirman Campaign organized by Press Information Bureau Imphal with sister organizations at Bishnunaha community hall Yairipok in Thoubal District the first session focused on National Rural Health Mission and the speaker was H.Rishikesh Sharma DPM, NRHM Thoubal.

Rishikesh said, "the aim and objects of the NRHM are to control maternal and child mortality rate.

The health of a nation is decided when the mortality rate of mother and child is controlled.

Out of 1 lakh women 374 die in delivering babies.

The child mortality rate stands at 14 out of 1000.NRHM pays attention in controlling child birth also" .

Stressing at length the role played by Accredited Social Health Activists( ASHAs )he said, "they are playing the role of bridge establishing contact between the Government and the beneficiaries.

NRHM eggs on ASHAs to work more and to look into the requirements of the local people.

The reports collected by ASHAs are then submitted to the district level authority, which are then passed on to the higher authority to bring the requirements" .

"Difference between NRHM and other health related policies and programmes are such that the former extends help and benefits after conducting a survey to know the requirements.

He said Thoubal District has 50 health sub centres.

Each centre is manned by two ANMs.

Each centre is given Rs 10,000 for office maintenance and ' 10,000 for buying bandage and other items.

Each centre is looked after by a committee headed by an elected representative belonging to the area" .

He informed that "each primary health centre is given ' 1.3 lakhs for maintenance for buying medicines and bandages.

He also talked about Janani Suraksha Yojna.

A pregnant woman, who belongs to below poverty line and having been treated thrice in the three time star period spanning nine months can get financial assistance under the scheme" .

Earlier giving the key note address Premlata Loitam MCO, PIB Imphal said, "B harat Nirman Campaign is a big campaign, which is held all over the country.

Yairipok has received the rare opportunity of hosting the campaign.

She appealed to the local people to come out enmasse to grasp the benefits they can get from the Government.

By talking to the Government officials a simple villager can understand how the benefits can be obtained." She added Bharat Nirman Campaign attempts to establish the link between the common people and the Government.

Thoubal : 1633 school dropouts enrolled in schools

In the afternoon session of the Bharat Nirman Campaign held at Yairipok Bishnunaha community hall Yairipok in Thoubal District Priyokumar Additional DPO Thoubal spoke on Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan (SSA).

He said the aim and objects of the SSA are to provide free education to children in the age group of five to 14 and for the physically challenged children up to 18 years of age.

"Right to Education Act having been passed every child is entitled to receive free education and the parents and guardians denying them education will be liable to be punished.

He informed the gathering that "as per a survey carried out up to July this year there are 8010 children with special care needs.

In Thoubal block the figure stands at 789.Out of 789 children belonging to CWSN 400 had been enrolled in various schools.

Out of 18 teachers appointed to give education to the students belonging to the above category Thoubal block has received three teachers.

He also said the 388 CWSN students in Thoubal had been given wheel chairs, hearing aids sticks etc.

130 physically challenged students had also been certificates which can be used in boarding train without paying fare.

He said 49 lower primary schools in Thoubal block had been upgraded to primary level and six primary level school to Junior High School.

He appealed to the crowd to report to the concerned authority if there be any school drop outs in their respective areas or villages adding that steps will be taken to enroll them in the Government schools.

So far 1633 school drop outs had been enrolled in different schools spread over the length and breadth of Thoubal block.

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