‘Gandhigiri’ appears to be taking deep roots in Koppal district on the issue of motivating people to opt for individual toilets to make the district ‘open-defecation free’ by March 2017.
After the ‘whistling’ campaign launched by Janardhan Huligi, as president of the Zilla Panchayat in the previous term, and Srinivas Karturi of Sriram Nagar Gram Panchayat in Gangavati virtually seen bending before the people with an appeal not to defecate in the open, Mallamma, a teen-aged girl studying SSLC in the government high school at Danapur in Gangavati taluk, resorting to hunger strike to get a toilet has been the latest.
That Mallamma was on fast, to mount pressure on her parents to get a toilet constructed, came to light when R. Ramachandran, ZP Chief Executive Officer, visited her house as part a door-to-door campaign to create awareness among the people to get a toilet constructed.
Mr. Ramachandran summoned Mallamma and appreciated her bold decision. Mallamma said that she came to know about the importance of toilets through her teachers and also the fact that it (toilet) would put an end to embarrassment of going out into the open to defecate. At home, when her demand for a toilet was turned down by her mother, Sanna Ningamma, quoting paucity of funds and non-availability of a place, Mallamma resorted to hunger strike and did not eat for three days.
Role model, says ZP CEO
Mr. Ramachandran immediately instructed the officials, including the Panchayat Development Officer, to construct a toilet near Mallamma’s house within a week.
Narrating the incident to The Hindu , Mr. Ramachandran said “Mallamma is a ‘role model’ for others to emulate. Such positive response from the public has enhanced our confidence of making the district open-defecation free before March 2017”.
According to him, there are 1,497 families in Danapur Gram Panchayat, comprising Hebbal, Hebbal camp, Maddi camp and Maruti Nagar, of whom 759 had toilets and others have agreed to get one constructed.
Vijayalakshmi Prabhakar, ZP member, who was present, while complimenting Mallamma, appealed to people to opt for individual toilets.
Shafi Shekshavali, Gram Panchayat president, and Phakiraiah, Taluk Panchayat member, were among others present.
