The dream of achieving total sanitation in their villages has taken off, but there may be some turbulence ahead. As many as 103 sarpanchs in Ahmednagar district want the government to pay for their air travel to New Delhi where they are slated to receive the Nirmal Gram Puraskar from President A P J Abdul Kalam on May 4. But as per the Centre’s instructions, the district administration can only offer railway tickets.

If the district administration meets the demand for free air travel, it will have to shell out at least Rs 12.5 lakh towards the fare cost. While a full-fare one-way ticket costs Rs 10,095, the discounted fare is available at Rs 6,045.

Some sarpanchs want the administration to foot the bill for their families too. “It would be a great moment in my life to shake hands with the President, and my family members are eager to witness this moment,” said Parle Budruk sarpanch Balasaheb Kalamkar.

Besides sarpanchs, the district administration is under pressure from political parties too to fund the air travel. “If sarpanchs who have worked hard to win national recognition for their villages get a chance to fly, it would be an apt compliment for their work,” said zilla parishad president Shalini Vikhe-Patil. She plans to take up the matter with the zilla parishad CEO, Prajakta Lavangare.

But Lavangare said: “Though the sarpanchs are eager to fly, we are not in a position to bear the cost. The zilla parishad is planning to make railway reservations.”

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