The innovative move is a bid to make Puducherry open-defecation free by next October.
Since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, state governments across the country have been coming up with innovative ideas to spread awareness about the importance of good hygiene habits. In addition to keeping our surroundings clean, governments are also pushing the public to build toilets with the hope of ending open defecation and curbing its deleterious effects.
The government has used engaging advertisements across various media to spread the message of a clean India and has also held competitions with interesting prizes for winners. The Puducherry government’s latest push to end open defecation, however, takes the cake.
The Government of Puducherry has announced that it will offer free tickets to superstar Rajnikant’s much-awaited film, Kabali to those who build toilets.
Image Source: Facebook
A recent survey by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) has found that 45,403 households in Puducherry and Karaikal do not have toilets.
447 out of 772 household in the village of Sellipet, Puducherry, do not have toilets.
DRDA Project Director, P Parthiban told The Times of India:
“We announced in Sellipet panchayat that those who build toilets in their homes will get Kabali tickets free. Families living in 447 households defecate in the open. This is an incentive for them. We have also launched awareness programmes about healthy and hygienic practices.”
By tapping into the famed fan-following actor Rajnikant commands, the government is providing fans with a hard-to-resist offer. The actor’s latest film, ‘Kabali’ is slated to release in on 22nd July, 2016. The trailers of the movie have created much excitement among the star’s loyal fans.
This innovative move is an attempt by the Puducherry government to meet its target of making the beautiful Union Territory an open-defecation free area by next October.
The step has been well-received, with Lt Governor of Puducherry, Kiran Bedi tweeting: “Collector in #pondicherry is using gift of tickets of this film as incentive for use of Public Services!Its Working!”
She has also commended the effort to bring about an attitudinal change in people and has even approached Rajnikant to become a brand ambassador of the Swachh Bharat mission in Puducherry.
Attitudinal change for sustaining a #SwachhPuducherry… pic.twitter.com/n8j61fhI8o
— Lt. Gov. Puducherry (@LGov_Puducherry) July 1, 2016
Says Puducherry Collector, P Jawahar “We have been sensitizing people on hygienic lifestyle and habits. We have also invited voluntary organizations to come forward and assist the government in various projects particularly the Swachh Bharat scheme.”
With new and innovative steps such as these, we are that the government will soon be able to achieve its goal of an open-defecation free Puducherry.
Featured Image Source: Facebook
Like this story? Have something to share? Email: contact@thebetterindia.com, or join us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia). To get positive news on WhatsApp, just send ‘Start’ to 090 2900 3600 via WhatsApp.
