Panchayats get penal powers

Nurpur, January 12
In order to make total sanitation campaign a success in rural areas of
the state, the state government's Panchayati Raj Department has armed
the gram panchayats with power to penalise those who do not adhere to
the instructions to construct toilets.

Confirming this local block development officer NR Thakur said today
that the director-cum-special secretary of the Panchayati Raj in its
letter no. PCH-HBC (15)4/07 H-37580-91 had empowered the gram
panchayats to ensure open defecate free (ODF) by issuing orders to
build toilets within specified period. — OC