Woman mortgages 'Mangalsutra' for building toilet at home

Sasaram (Bihar): A woman has mortgaged her 'mangalsutra' to construct a toilet in her house at Barahkhanna village here following which Rohtas district administration made her the brand ambassador of total sanitation programme recognising her effort.

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Phool Kumari took the step after she had failed 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 the opposition of male members of her family while mortgaging her 'mangalsutra' to arrange the required money, they said. Rohtas District Magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar said, "On Wednesday, I and other district administration officials would participate in the inauguration of construction work for a toilet at Kumari's house in the presence of her husband and father-in-law."

The woman was made brand ambassador of the total sanitation programme in the district to inspire others, the District Magistrate said. "We will ensure that the toilet is constructed within 10 days," he said.