The district is progressing swiftly to complete all schemes to achieve the State government’s objective to declare Kerala as open defecation free (ODF) on November 1.
As many as 16,551 toilets are being constructed in Kozhikode as part of the programme. Of these, 13,605 would be in 70 grama panchayats and the remaining 2, 946 in municipalities and Kozhikode corporation, K.P. Velayudhan, district coordinator, Suchitwa Mission, said. Already, Peruvayal grama panchayat has been declared first ODF local body in the district. About 40 resource persons have been deputed for the implementation of the programme. Besides, elected representatives and voluntary agencies are wholeheartedly cooperating with the mission.
District Collector N. Prasanth held a meeting to review the progress of the scheme. The construction of toilets in urban areas would be competed by September 1 and in rural areas within the stipulated time, he said.
Agreement
Last month the District Planning Committee had endorsed the suggestion of the grama panchayats that the local bodies in association with voluntary agencies take efforts to eliminate open defecation. An agreement was also inked between the local bodies and those agencies to ensure that the Central government’s Swachh Bharat scheme is implemented without fail.
Jalanidhi, a project of the Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, had been tasked to construct toilets, if required in all the 70 grama panchayats in the district by September 1 in the first phase of the programme. Further, all pending projects would be completed by October 31.
National workshop
At a two-day national workshop on Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission last week, Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ramesh Jigajinagi had appreciated that most villages of Kerala were doing SLWM sustainable through vermin composting, biogas plants, soak pits, and water treatment practices. This could be an example for replication in many other States of the country, he said.
Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel had said that Kerala had adopted the slogan “My Waste is My Responsibility” as an important means to create public awareness. The State had taken up the challenge and was aiming to become India’s second ODF State (after Sikkim) by November 1, he added.
My Waste is My Responsibility
1.16,551 toilets being constructed in district
Work in urban areas to be completed by September 1
Jalanidhi to construct toilets in grama panchayats
All pending projects will be completed by October 31
