Bid to make Ganjam villages free of open defecation

BERHAMPUR: The district administration on Wednesday launched a drive to make some villages of Ganjam district free of open defecation.
A morning squad, consisting of some senior officials camped at Gobindapur under Sheragada block early in the morning, to create awareness about hygiene among the villagers.
Led by project director of district rural development agency (DRDA) Vijay Amrut Kulangee, the squad explained the benefits of using the toilets at home by presenting a rose to those found defecating in the open.The drive is a part of Ama Swabhiman Swachha Ganjam, an initiative launched by the district administration under Swachha Bharat Mission.
"We can't prevent the call of the nature on the first day. Once they return after relieving themselves, we present the villagers with a rose and ask them to construct toilets at their homes," said district education officer (DEO) Sanatan Panda, one of the members of the morning squad.
Kulangee, on the other hand, spoke of the government schemes for the construction of individual household latrines and the subsidy provided by them for the same. "Following this, most of the villagers agreed to construct latrines in their houses, while the administration assured to provide them with work order in a week," said the DEO. Bijay Patra, the executive engineer, rural water supply and sanitation (Berhampur), was also introduced in the meeting as a member of the squad. The squad will visit some other vulnerable villages in the district.
The administration has also launched the Vidyalaya Parimala scheme and engaged schoolkids to motivate their parents to cosntruct and use latrine. Goba, one of the villages in Chhatrapur block, was credited for achieving 100% individual household latrine recently.