Kathmandu, August 16:

The Department of Water Supply and Sanitation (DWSS), in its effort to engage school students in sanitation programmes in urban areas, organised a four-day seminar here.

The seminar that ended today discussed the effectiveness of sanitation programmes in urban areas with the initiation of schools and students.

The DWSS has launched similar sanitation programmes in the rural areas.

The programme was organised with the support of Water for Asian Cities Programme of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Hari Prasad Sharma, director general of DWSS underscored the need to identify the areas where sanitation programmes should be launched.

All possible alternatives should be recognised before planning for sanitation programmes, he said.

Dr Roshan Shrestha, technical advisor of the UN-HABITAT said, “Participation of schools and students to conduct sanitation programmes and raise awareness in the communities could be very effective.” He added that small programmes conducted on community level are very crucial to support big programmes.

Participants stressed on the need of students’ involvement to maintain sanitation of community and towns stated a press release issued by the UN-HABITAT today.