A poster of Kabali.

Key Highlights Puducherry government has offered residents free ticket to Rajnikant's latest movie 'Kabali' for constructing toilets

A survey by the district rural development agency had found that of the 772 households in Sellipet village, 447 do not have a toilet

Puducherry: ‘Mudiyuma, Nadakkuma’ (Doable? Can happen?), asks the ‘Kabali’ film trailer. Yes, a clean village is possible and can happen, says the Puducherry government. The Union territory’s administration is capitalizing on the Rajini craze to persuade residents,who defecate in the open, to build toilets in their homes. If they do, it has promised them free tickets to watch Kabali. The film, which was earlier slated for release on July 15, has been postponed by a week to July 22.

Expressing her appreciation for the initiative, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi tweeted, “Collector in #pondicherry is using gift of tickets of this film (Kabali) as incentive for use of Public Services! It’s Working!”

The district rural development agency (DRDA), which undertook a survey, found that 45,403 households in Puducherry and Karaikal do not have toilet facilities and people defecate in the open. The agency in an effort to motivate people to construct toilets announced the Kabali gift to Sellipet panchayat residents. The village has 772 households and 447 of them do not have toilet facilities.

The government has proposed to make Puducherry open defecation-free by next October.

We announced in Sellipet panchayat that those who build toilets in their homes will get Kabali tickets free. Families living in 447 households defecate in the open. This is an incentive for them. We have also launched awareness programmes about healthy and hygienic practices,” said DRDA project director P Parthiban.

Puducherry collector P Jawahar said while the Union government extends Rs 12,000 as subsidy for a beneficiary under Swachh Bharat scheme for constructing of a toilet, the Puducherry government contributes Rs 8,000 for a beneficiary.

“The government has proposed to make Puducherry open defecation-free by next October. We have been sensitizing people on hygienic lifestyle and habits. We have also invited voluntary organizations to come forward and assist the government in various projects particularly the Swachh Bharat scheme,” said Jawahar.

The government has proposed to rope in popular personalities and actors including Rajinikant, Kamal Hasan and Suriya to spearhead Swachh Bharat scheme in the Union territory.

