MANGALORE: The four-year total sanitation programme will get under way in Dakshina Kannada district on October 2, according to A.M. Kunjappa, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat.

The programme will launched with the inauguration of a model toilet at Ganjimath gram panchayat by district in-charge Minister Jabbar Khan Honnalli. The gram panchayat has organised a jatha on the occasion.

Various models of toilets will be displayed to create awareness among people on the need to maintain hygiene.

In a press release, Mr. Kunjappa said that according to a survey conducted this year, of the 2,36,579 homes in the district, 79,838 do not have toilets. Of the houses that do not have toilets, 37,700 belong to the below the poverty line category.

Besides 31 public toilets, 370 toilets for anganawadis and 366 toilets for schools will be constructed during 2005-06.

The government provides Rs. 500 as subsidy for those living below poverty line for the construction of toilets at homes. The panchayat has prepared models of toilets which could be constructed with a minimum cost of Rs. 625.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare has launched a publicity campaign in the district since September 22 to create awareness about sanitation and health.

Mr. Kunjappa said the Government has released Rs. 1.98 crores to the district under the Rajiv Gandhi Mission scheme in 2000 for sanitation programmes. In that, Rs. 1.79 crores has been spent.

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