By IANS,
New Delhi : Sanitation in rural India would get a boost with a likely 40 percent increase in the budget this year for construction of toilets in village homes, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said.
“The union government is seriously contemplating 40 percent increase for sanitation sector in the annual budget this year, and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has assured to pay full attention to sanitation sector in the coming budget,” he said.
The union budget will be presented March 16.
“The government is considering a proposal to increase the grant for construction of individual toilets in rural areas,” Ramesh said while launching a nationwide sanitation campaign — ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ organised by Sulabh International Wednesday.
He also said his ministry would focus on the implementation of sanitation related issues at gram (village) panchayat level.