DIBRUGARH: With an aim to implement water security and safety plan, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Dibrugarh has entrusted the NESYPM, an Non–Government Organization (NGO) with the task to survey the status of drinking water in the rural areas of Lahoal and Barbaruah block in Dibrugarh District. An awareness programme on National Rural Drinking Water, organized by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Dibrugarh in coordination with Janakantha, an NGO, was held at Walkhabi village under Barbaruah Development Block on Wednesday last. The programme was jointly presided over by Headmaster of Walkhabi LP School, Dilu Ram Sarmah and President of Janakantha, Ramesh Saikia. The programme was marked by discussion on schemes of Rural Drinking water programme, cleanliness, and sanitation. Addressing the awareness programme as a resource person, Hari Narayan Saikia of PHE Department said — National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development and the goal of the programme is to provide every rural person with adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other basic domestic needs on a sustainable basis. “The survey is on process”–he said. Earlier, Field Publicity Officer, Pranab Kumar Nath, higlighted the aims and objective of the programme. He said that Directorate of Field Publicity, Government of India in collaboration with local NGO were organizing awareness programme with a view to make the rural and semi-rural people conscious about their own rights so that they would consequently come forward to take benefit of government schemes. The programme also included rural sports competition among children,quiz competition and prize distribution.