Bihar: Toilet work starts at home of woman who mortgaged mangalsutra

Sasaram: Work for construction of toilet started on Wednesday at the house of a woman, who has mortgaged her 'mangalsutra' for it, at Barahkhanna village in Rohtas district.

The work for construction of toilet at Phool Kumari'shouse has started, District Magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar told PTI.

Phool Kumari has mortgaged her 'mangalsutra' for construction of a toilet at her husband's home. She did it after failing to raise adequate money by working as a cook at a local primary school as her farm labourer husband's income is meagre, the local panchayat said.

She also braved opposition of male members of her family while mortgaging her 'mangalsutra'.

A "Beti Bahan Samman Samaroh" was also observed on Wednesday in the entire Sanjhauli block under which Barahkhanna village come, the DM said.

As part of the function, senior male members of each household took an oath that they would have a toilet at home and not marry off the girl of their family to somebody who does not have a toilet at home.

Recognising Phool Kumar's effort, the Rohtas district administration made her the brand ambassador of total sanitation programme in the district.

Asked if the district administration would provide financial assistance to her for construction of toilet, the DM said she would get monetary assistance in discharge of duty as motivator for sanitation campaign in the district.