Champua: Construction of toilets under the Centre’s much-hyped Swachh Bharat Mission has reportedly floundered in this tribal-dominated block of Keonjhar district as people alleged that funds allocated for them are inadequate. Beneficiaries are refusing to take work order saying the money is ‘meagre.’
According to reports, rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) is implementing the toilet construction work in Champua after it was given NAC status.
Recently, work orders have been issued to 187 people, but most of them are not interested in building toilets, citing insufficient funds.
In rural areas, Rs 12,000 is allocated for a toilet while it is Rs 6,600 in towns and NAC areas. In case of differently-abled persons or widows, the amount has been fixed at Rs 8,000.
The toilet construction has reportedly failed to make any progress in the NAC with a few takers for the scheme.
It is learnt that the programme was a success in 2013-14. The RWSS had allocated toilets for 272 people –38 BPL and 234 APL. Three years have passed since Champua was accorded NAC status.
Another reason is lack of monitoring. The authorities concerned have not checked if the beneficiaries have built toilets or at what stage the toilet construction is.
“Surprisingly, many people are not receiving their work orders from the office. Nor do they take the order even if an officer comes to their doorsteps,” lamented community organiser of NAC, Rashmita Moharana.
Champua sub-collector Parul Patwari, during his stint as Champua BDO a year ago, had given priority to toilet construction. Kutaripasi and Kasipal panchayats were declared as open defecation-free (ODF). The administration had effectively convinced people of the need for toilets for clean environment. Toilets were built in each household.
Encouraged by its success, the administration had included eight more panchayats under the Swachh Bharat Mission. It also adopted a resolution to ensure that all panchayats are made ODF in the next three years. Sadly, nothing has been done beyond this.
Many parts of Champua NAC are tribal-dominated. Locals have demanded that there should be efforts to quicken the pace of toilet construction. PNN
