Kirtans to help spread cleanliness message ……Sandeep Ashar
Mumbai: It is said that cleanliness is next to godliness.The state government has now decided to put this belief to use.
The water supply and sanitation ministry has sought Gods help to spread the work on personal hygiene.The ministry has decided to use devotional songs and kirtans to render cleanliness lessons.
Kirtankars and singers of acclaim from all parts of the state will be roped in for the campaign.Laxman Dhobale,minister,water supply and sanitation,said the plan was to reach out to the remotest corner to spread awareness.
Kirtans are a popular medium of devotion among Maharashtrians,Dhobale said.The minister added that request letters for participation have been sent to kirtankars of repute.
The cleanliness campaign will be launched on October 15,which is celebrated as the International Hand Wash Day.A formal announcement is anticipated on that day.On October 21,close to 1,000 kirtankars are expected to assemble at Alandi near Pune for a camp,where they will be provided details on the kind of messages the ministry would like them to spread.
According to statistics by the WHO,close to 1.5 lakh people in the country die of waterborne disease every year.The minister claimed that most of these were triggered by a lack of personal hygiene.