PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said the problem of garbage is more serious than formalin (in fish).
Parrikar informed that the State government has started distributing sanitary pads to girls in schools, higher secondary schools and colleges from the current academic year in order to educate them about personal hygiene.
He was speaking during a review meeting of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and the launch of the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 at Raj Bhavan in presence of Governor Mridula Sinha and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho.
“When we talk about Swatchhata (cleanliness) it is about personal as well as community hygiene. Throwing garbage on the road may keep your home clean but it will make surroundings dirty due to which it will give rise to diseases such as dengue. State has been generating 1,000 tonnes of garbage on a monthly basis. Garbage is a serious problem than formalin in fish. Garbage is much more serious problem than adulteration in the food items. You have a choice when it comes to adulteration in food items but when garbage is thrown on the road, you have no choice.”
He said, “From this academic year onwards, the Government has started teaching Value Education to children in all schools. We are receiving “very good” response that even private schools including those run by Church organisations, have demanded that they want to teach Value Education in their curriculum.”
“The Education Department has included subjects such as traffic, cleanliness, and personal hygiene in the curriculum,” he said.
Following public outcry and criticism on the formalin in fish issue and keeping in view the Assembly session, the State government had announced a 15-day ban on fish imports.
.
