Ludhiana, Aug 13 (IANS): Over 5,000 toilets have been constructed across Punjab's Ludhiana district by Bharti Foundation, an arm of telecom giant Bharti Airtel, an official statement said on Thursday.

Bharti Foundation is the Collective Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Bharti Airtel and the Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL), constructed in 210 villages, have been handed over to the people.

Under its 'Satya Bharti Abhiyan' initiative, the foundation had committed an investment of up to Rs.100 crore in Punjab for construction of toilets, a foundation spokesman said here on Thursday.

"Over 1,500 toilets are currently under construction in 64 additional villages. The initiative has benefitted over 25,000 people through the construction of IHHL," he said.

The Bharti Foundation aims to cover over 900 villages across Ludhiana district under the initiative and construct toilets free of cost in all households lacking such facilities.

"At the end of this program, Ludhiana district will be left with no household without a toilet," the spokesman said.

"In addition to rural household sanitation, the 'Satya Bharti Abhiyan' is also constructing toilets to improve sanitation facilities in government schools in rural Ludhiana by building toilets for girls, wherever no such facility exists," he added.

Rakesh Bharti Mittal, co-chairman, Bharti Foundation, said: The benefits and impact on the quality of life through this project are clearly visible on the ground."

"We remain fully committed to the program and are confident that within the next two years every rural household without a toilet in the district will be provided with one," Mittal said.

"In addition, we plan to provide separate toilet for girls in government schools across the district to make sure that the lack of this basic amenity is not a barrier for educating the girl child," he added.