CHANDIGARH: A village of 4000 residents Gaundika in Sirsa district of Haryana has decided that they will marry off their girls only to families who have a toilet in their house as this resolution passed by the gram panchayat of the village has been inspired by the Bollywood movie 'Toilet- Ek Prem Katha'. Meanwhile Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated the panchayat for their unique decision.
The change has come in this village, as one can spot banners with a slogan `Beti Wahin Byahenge, Jis Ghar Me Shauchalaya Payenge' (Marry daughter in only in that house where there is a toilet). On the directions of the government the district administration had earlier screened the Akshay Kumar starrer 'Toilet- Ek Prem Katha' for all sarpanchs in the area to sensitise them about cleanliness and encourage them to work towards a Swachh Bharat Mission.
Confirming that this decision to marry their daughters in those household only where there is toilet was taken unanimously by the panchayat of the village and all the sections of the society in the villages supported this decision, Sarpanch of Gaundika village, Dharmpal Mundlia said, "the girls or ladies in the villages have to go out of their houses early in the morning or late evening to attend to the call of nature and they do not feel safe thus it was decided by the panchayat that we will not marry our daughters to those people who don't have toilets in their homes. All the villagers in our village have toilets in their houses and thus it will be wrong on our part if we marry off our daughters in those families in who's houses there are no toilets. ''
"This progressive move will ensure the safety and well-being of the women in the village and also ensure hygiene,'' he said. Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated this village panchayat through his tweet for their unique decision to marry their daughters in those houses only which have toilets.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat project envisioned an India free of open defecation, and a toilet in each home. The decision taken by the Godikan village is really appreciable." The decision has been supported equally by whole of the community.
While appreciating this decision, Khattar suggested that all other village panchayats should follow suit. Dharmpal took pride in the tweet and thanked the Chief Minister for his support. The tweet also boosted the morale of the villagers to work with more enthusiasm in future, he added. This panchayat has already been declared an Outdoor Defecation Free (ODF) panchayat as it has ensured no open defecation. He said that the panchayat adopted this resolution on June 8 and it stated that all residents of the village would marry off their daughters and sisters only into those families which have toilets in their houses.
Earlier, this village panchayat has been felicitated by the state government for paying electricity bills regularly as each villager paid their power dues on time. Based on a true story the satirical comedy, 'Toilet - Ek Prem Katha' had reflected the message of of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.