Resumes the Toy train service in Darjeeling

Riding the Toy Train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR) has always remained a coveted experience to the tourists. Only few would let go such an opportunity. And there is a clear reason why so. After all this Toy Train has been accorded the UNESCO World Heritage status, and that's for something special.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in West Bengal resumed the toy train service after a gap of nearly five years. A landslide in the Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling district in 2010 had damaged the railway track and the toy train services between Kurseong and New Jalpaiguri were suspended.

West Bengal Sanitation Project Wins United Nations award

Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes as well as the treatment and proper disposal of sewage or waste water.

United Nations:  A project in West Bengal's Nadia district for improving heath by providing sanitary toilets and promoting their use has won a first place UN award for innovative public services.

Announcing the award to the Sabar Shouchagar - "Toilets for All" - project, the UN department administering the awards said on Monday that it "is a unique model developed to generate awareness, improve access to sanitary toilets, and bring substantial health improvement through improved sanitation".

The project increased awareness and brought about behavioural changes leading to more use of the constructed toilets, it added.

The award from the Division for Public Administration and Development Management of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) is to be given in Medellin, Colombia, on Thursday at a UN Public Service Forum.

"The awards highlight many innovations that help to provide better services to citizens everywhere in the world and improve people's lives," said Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

"It provides an international platform to showcase some of the best examples of effective public governance."