Eliminating open defecation in India by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the key aims of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan movement launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago on Gandhi Jayanti.
The Dhubri district has been declared ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF) district after achieving the target fixed to construct the total 1, 47,513 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) under Swatch Bharat Mission (Gramin).
The Dhubri district administration has recently got the letter of appreciation by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Rihon Daimari on Monday issued by Mission Directorate, Swatch Bharat Mission (Gramin), Assam.
Notably, on March 26, 2018, under the Mission Sambhav 2018, the Dhubri Water and Sanitary Committee (DWSC) had taken an initiative for the constriction of 15000 toilets (IHHLs) with pit digging synchronizing with state-wide campaign which aims to reach one lakh household for toilet construction.
Ananta Lal Gyani, Deputy Commissioner of Dhubri, said after a base line survey for the purpose, the target for the construction of toilets under Swacha Bharat Mission (Gramin) for Dhubri district was 1,47,513 and till March 26, 2018 (data as on March 26, 2018) a total of 1,19,668 Individual Households Latrines (IHHLs) were already been constructed.
Despite that, the district was lagging behind the target and accordingly the DWSC had taken it as a challenge and achieved the target within the schedule time period, Gyani added.
The DC-cum-chairman of DWSC, Dhubri while thanking to all, particularly the rural people including the media for playing a significant role in bringing overall behavioural change for proper sanitation, health and hygiene habits among people of the society.
Gyani further said, “Mere achievement of construction of toilets and achieved the target will not serve the actual goal of Swachhata in the real sense of the term, proper usage and maintenance is equally important for sustaining ODF status.”
But, the total sanitation in urban area of the district is still a big challenge for the district administration and even the Dhubri Municipal area is lagging behind the target.