Chhatrapur: Ganjam district is home to many who still defecate in the open as they are yet to receive funds for building toilets at home. Despite a series of campaigns on the need to maintain hygiene, environmental hygiene and the concept of toilets at home are still alien to many in the district.
In a unique way to promote sanitation, a roll call was launched after the summer vacation in the district to create a sense of hygiene. Students in schools were asked to respond with either ‘have toilet at home’ or ‘don’t have toilet at home’ instead of the usual present sir/madam’.
City High Schools and all government run-schools across Ganjam followed the practice. However, the toilet construction is yet to run in full swing in the district.
According to sources, the district was included under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) Yojana, two years ago. It received funds to promote toilets. However, `14.94 crore still remained unutilised in this fiscal. Later, `30 crore was released for the district this year.
While the district was allotted `44.94 crore, only `15.61 crore was used till now, sources said. Meanwhile, the administration has failed to produce necessary documents in proof of the used funds, sources said.
The district administration in the current year targets to build toilets for a total of 4.2 lakh families in the district in the current year, sources said. While only 1.24 lakh families have benefitted, the remaining 2.77 lakh families are yet to get the benefits.
Among the beneficiaries are 7451 families in Aska block, 9333 in Beguniapara, 4309 in Belguntha, 7085 in Bhanjanagar, 3541 in Buguda, 5303 in Chhatrapur, 3064 in Chikiti, 6258 in Dharakote, 3633 in Digapahandi, 3822 in Ganjam, 15003 in Hinjili, 5539 in Jagannathprasad, 4272 in Kabisuryanagar, 3659 in Khallikote, 4424 in Kukudakhandi, 4603 in Patrapur, 8998 in Polasara, 4938 in Purushottampur, 4820 in Rangeilunda, 3584 in Sanakhemundi, 4922 in Sheragad and 6065 familes in Sorada block.
Lakhs of villagers claim they are still deprived of the toilet facilities. Women claim they have not received funds for building latrines at home and still relieve themselves in open. Many locals claimed that they got toilets built in their houses about a year ago but the village authorities have not given the fund of `12,000 yet while many who constructed toilets on their own are not getting their bills passed. Sensing troubles, neighbours feared to spend money on construction of toilets.
Furious over the administration’s negligence, MLAs led people in gheraoing the local executive engineer August 19 at Ganjam Zilla Parishad meeting. Berhampur SP, Aska MP and Kabisuryanagar MLA had expressed disappointment over delay in toilet work at a district monitoring committee meeting at Chhatrapur Saturday.
When this issue was brought to the notice of the District Rural Development Agency Project Director Bijay Amruta Kulang, the latter said necessary steps will be taken in this regard. PNN
