Shimla, September 27

With five state districts making it to the list of 10 open defecation-free (ODF) districts in hilly regions of the country in a national level survey, the state is now endeavouring to be the second ODF state after Mizoram on October 20.

Though Mizoram became ODF in 2005 but the state slipped back. Himachal is aiming to be the first state to achieve this feat. The state already has 97 per cent toilet coverage and work on the construction of 47,000 toilets is under way. The 11,000 dysfunctional toilets too will be repaired before October 20.

“Having achieved the 100 per cent toilet coverage, we will stake claim before the Centre on October 20 to declare Himachal an open defecation-free state,” said Onkar Chand Sharma, Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development. He said work on achieving this target was in full swing and inspection by officials would be complete before October 20 so that the case could be sent to Delhi.

He said the review by nodal officers for ensuring 100 per cent ODF coverage would be complete after the October 2 gram sabhas and the report be sent to the Centre by October 20.

Kerala has set the deadline of November 1 but with only 35 per cent toilet.

As per a survey carried out by the Quality Council of India for the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for choosing the cleanest city, Mandi district had been ranked number one, Shimla number three, Hamirpur number five, Kullu at seventh place and Chamba got the 10th rank among the hilly states.

While Mandi had been declared ODF, on October 2 six other districts of Hamirpur, Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Lahaul Spiti likely to be ODF. The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will undertake a campaign, headed by the Chief Secretary from September 28 to October 20, for ensuring solid and liquid waste management, provision of clean drinking water and proper hygiene all over the state.

The campaign will see the involvement of various departments such as Health, Irrigation and Public Health and Social Justice and Empowerment. The survey was based on four parameters like having access to safe toilets and their use, cleanliness around houses, average score of cleanliness around public places and houses having no waste water.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/hp-aims-to-be-open-defecation-free-in-oct/301805.html

This certainly is a step in the right direction, and environmentally, socially and governmentally it needs immediate action throughout India --  http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/sanitation_india.html