Ahmedabad: The state rural development department has joined hands with Unicef Gujarat to develop statewide communication and advocacy strategy for promotion of open defecation-free communities and good hygiene practices in Gujarat.

The department and Unicef had undertaken a detailed research last year on the current hygiene practices of communities specifically related to hand washing and toilet use. A two-day workshop-cum-orientation programme was organized at Gandhinagar in presence of S L Amrani, additional commissioner and state coordinator, communication and capacity development unit (CCDU), Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan, and senior Unicef officials.