Nitish Kumar sets new condition: Have toilet, contest elections

"The incentives/subsidies was a tool to encourage people to think on the significance of toilets. I was aghast to note that many people had toilets and yet they did not use it – and my endeavour was to create a compelling attentiveness among people on the need for the same," he said.

"I have announced this year that panchayats that achieve the 100 per cent target of constructing toilets will be given the Nirmal Gram Panchayat prize of Rs 5 lakh each. The Nirmal Prakhand award will carry Rs 25 lakh in prize for blocks for conducting a cleanliness drive."

The Bihar Chief Minister said his effort was aimed at addressing a fundamental woe of human civilization, a cause for which Mahatma Gandhi spent considerable efforts.