Amidst the ongoing nation-wide debate on evolving a holistic definition of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and doubts on achieving cent per cent objectives of the mission, the achievement on making 1,206 villages free from open defecation in the state was has been less than 25%.
According to latest information available from the office of Director of Social Audit S.H. Hegde, the government had set a target for itself to make 1,206 villages as Open Defecation Free (ODF) during the current financial year. As on Jan 24, only 230 villages have achieved 100% success, 278 achieved more than 90% and 698 less than 90% achievement during 2014-15.
In Belagavi district, according to Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat Deepa Cholan, out of targeted 141 villages, 20 of five taluks have achieved 100% success and declared as ODF villages. Another 21 villages have achieved 90% success so far and expected to become ODF by March-end. Belagavi district, as of now tops in Swachh Bharat Mission.
Villages declared as ODF are: Khanapur taluk – Jalge, Heballahatti, Karalgahati, Kokan Navaga; Belagavi taluk - Bekkinkere, Atitwad, Ganeshpur, Boknur, Devanghatti, Kumri, Kangrali K.H., Kinye, Khadarwdi, Rajhansgad, Kolikopp, Bachi, Konewadi; Ramdurg takuk – Hosalli; Bailhongal taluk - Kyarkopp; Hukkeri taluk. In addition to these, another 13 villages of Khanapur taluk and nine of Belagavi taluk had achieved more than 90% success.
According to Belagavi ZP deputy secretary, R.G. Nayak, under the mission beneficiaries were selected from APL and BPL families and given Rs.12,000 to construct Individual Household Latrine (IHHL), with 75% of unit cost (Rs. 9,000/-) coming from the centre and 25% (Rs. 4,000/-) contributed by the State government. In respect of SC/ST family, it is Rs. 15,000/-.
He said nearly 5.20 lakh IHHLs need to be constructed in the district out of which1.50 lakh had been constructed during last three years. The ZP has planned to construct 69,469 IHHLs during 2014-15 of which 35,000 had been completed.
