Koraput (Orissa), July 4 Tribals in Orissa's Koraput District have launched a sanitation drive to keep their villages clean and hygienic.

'Sanjog', a government run programme, was organised jointly by Panchayat Raj department, women and child department, health department and education department at the block level.

Villagers themselves decided to take up the cause of maintaining cleanliness and building toilets.

"Earlier, tribals were not able to understand how to use toilets and how to clean hands with soap after using them. I tried explaining all these things to them. Now they have understood. Whatever government has done for them it is very good. I am very happy. Now they don't go out in the open, they visit toilets only," said Sabita Pujari, Village Sarpanch.

An awareness rally was organised to educate villagers how to use toilets built for their convenience.

Also, they were educated to wash their hands with soap after going to the toilet or before meals and children were taught to keep their school premises clean.

"The objective of the programme is to provide water and sanitation facilities to improve the quality of life of rural people of the Koraput district. We have done number of activities. The first was to provide individual toilets at the village level to all households and to cover all school toilets," said Sankali Biswal, District Programme Coordinator.

Earlier, poor hygiene and lack of sanitation were causing diarrhoea among children and adults in the region. (ANI)