District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla has urged various departments to intensify efforts to make the district open defecation free (ODF) by November 1.
Out of the 82 panchayats in the district, 19 had already claimed to have achieved it. Respective panchayats have made declarations to the effect that all families within their limits have now got toilets, District Project Officer K.J. Tomy told a review meeting held on Thursday.
Applications have been received for 10,358 toilets. Thirumarady panchayat was the first to be declared open defecation free. The deadline for completing the total sanitation project in municipalities and the corporation is March 31. However, the Collector has asked panchayats to take steps to ensure the completion of the project by October 31. There will be inspections at the district and panchayat levels.
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Toilets are must for schools and anganwadis. Beneficiaries can build toilets on their own and the allocation of Rs.15,400 will be deposited in their accounts. Assistance up to Rs.2 lakh is available for the construction of community toilets.
Mr. Safirulla wanted faster project implementation in Kuttampuzha, Chellanam and Palluruthy panchayats. Awareness campaigns will be held to motivate local bodies to undertake the toilet project. Special models will be formulated to overcome hurdles in the construction of toilets in coastal areas. Various agencies have been entrusted with this task.
Kudumbasree District Coordinator Tani Thomas said that Kudumbasree members had been assisting in toilet construction in 11 panchayats. Another 120 women were being trained.
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District Planning Officer Saly Joseph said that projects submitted so far by all panchayats had been approved. Representative of builders’ forum Credai expressed readiness to build more toilets within the corporation limits.