Rural health programme in West Bengal begins in 1990.In the same year initiative for construction of household toilet for the rural people was also started at undivided Medinipur District which was named as Intensive Sanitation project (ISP) by the help of Ramakrishna Mission loksiksha Parishad. Later in 1995 Chakshimulia Gram Panchayet under Nandakumar block of undivided Medinipur, awarded as India’s first Nirmal Gram Panchayet. National Rural Water Mission was highly influenced by this innovative Intensive Sanitation project (ISP) of this district and so, Govt of India adopted few strategy and steps of Intensive Sanitation project (ISP) in National Rural Health Mission scheme in 1999. There-after in 2001 Nandigram-II Panchayet Samity crowned as India’s first Nirmal Panchayet Samity. So, we can proudly say that Medinipur district always holds a special place in the field of Health and sanitation campaigning in entire nation.

            1st January, 2002, Purba Medinipur district started its journey as new district and rural sanitation project commenced at Purba Medinipur district. Entire sanitation project was headed by District administration & Panchayat functionary with the help of sanitary Mart where objective was to generate awareness among rural people about health and hygiene. This district has taken so many initiatives of water and sanitation services to rural people especially among BPL, SC, ST and other weaker section. Out of 223 Gram Panchayet in Purba Medinipur, presently only 17 nos. of Gram Panchayat left to receive Nirmal Gram Panchayat Puruskar. People of Purba Medinipur district are so much aware about health and hygiene related issues as 89% people have sanitary latrine at their household. As per Baseline survey of 2012, 2 lakh 19 thousand families identified as toilet less. To achieve this goal district authority made exact plan and strategy. It has already been decided by state Govt that this district should achieve ODF status by 31st March 2016. So, for gearing up the construction of IHHL, district authority has ordered Gram Panchayet to work as Project Implementing Agency (PIA) simultaneously with Sanitary Mart. In Purba Medinipur district utilization of sanitary latrine has been a common practice of village people which leads decreasing rate of percentage of open defecation.