Gujarat govt launches toll-free helpline to build toilets at home

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel on Sunday launched a toll free number for people in Valsad district through which they can seek government’s assistance in building toilets at home. [caption id=“attachment_1723749” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel. Reuters[/caption] The service was launched by Patel at a function at Nanapodha village in Kaparda taluka of Valsad. As per the new initiative, anyone in Valsad district can just give a ring on the toll free number 1800-200-1004 in order to seek government’s help in building a toilet at home, an official press release. During the launch, Patel thanked the industrial houses and voluntary organisations of the nearby Valsad and Vapi towns for donating Rs five crore to build toilets. Patel also inaugurated an exhibition of about 40 cost-effective models of toilets. Patel handed over 15,000 acres of forest land titles, worth approximately Rs 100 crore to 7,000 families of six tribal districts of south Gujarat. She also distributed assistance worth Rs 11 crore to 4,370 beneficiaries and Rs 66.40 lakh to five women-run milk co-operative societies to buy cattle, the release said. Speaking on the occasion, she said the state government was committed to make tribals financially self-reliant and bring them into the mainstream. PTI