Expressing surprise at the mere 8.3 per cent house-holds in rural Jharkhand having toilets, the Ajsu party today made a fresh demand to accord the state with special status category and put it on the fast-track of development.
"We have been demanding special status for Jharkhand for the last over one year. This figure is just in one area. There are several sectors where the state lags behind," former deputy chief minister and Ajsu party president Sudesh Mahto said.
On Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Upendra Kushwaha mentioning the figure during his reply in Rajya Sabha earlier today, Mahto said, "Even now we expect the Centre according the state with the special status category to speed up development."
Kushwaha mentioned the figure based on the 2011 Census report while replying in the Upper House on independent candidate Parimal Nathwani's query on rural sanitation in Jharkhand.
