Regardless of big claims of achieving the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status recently by the Civic Body after constructing around 31,000 toilets as per the target, the public can still be seen urinating and defecating in open under the nose of Municipal Corporation’s enforcement team.
Recently on November 11, the enforcement cell of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) had imposed fine of Rs 1000 per person on 16 defaulters. Similarly, on November 16 as well, the enforcement cell officials nabbed 25 people defecating and urinating at Harmu Ground including ITI bus stand.
Though the officials from RMC said that the coverage of toilets construction in RMC area under ODF scheme has been achieved, however it may take some more time for the public to get acquainted with this hygienic practice of using toilets.
With Swacchta Sarvekshan – 2018 round the corner and several rounds of assessment left to be conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) team before officially certifying Ranchi as ODF city by Government of India, despite several attempts the menace of ODF in the State Capital is yet to be curtailed. From conducting regular checking drives at different wards to penalising the defaulters on the spot in spite of all measures, people can be seen carelessly urinating and defecating even at the busiest avenues.
Keeping the number of requisitions that has been collected by the civic body earlier as the base, the officials of RMC said that the Municipal Corporation has achieved the target and is doing much to create difference but behavioral change here is the biggest factor in bringing change.
RMC, which is one of the biggest Urban local Body (UlB), recently on October 2 declared itself ODF after completing the target of toilet construction. Also, in the Capital City alone, there are around 75 modular toilets within a radius of 5 km including quite a number of Sulabh Sauchalaya which is laying defunct.
Terming the mindset of public in creating the mess despite having the facilities, Deputy Mayor, Sanjiv Vijayawargia said, “By far, the report of the defaulters hints that most of them who were recently caught by the enforcement cell officials were either labourers or some migrants.
Till date, we have not collected any input from the City Managers or any ward councilor that the beneficiaries who have been given money for constructing toilets have failed to construct the toilets. Also, we have set the target as per the requisition letters received by us. Attempts are being made to instill this practice among all.”
Similarly, the City Manager heading the Municipal Corporation’s Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) team, Sandeep Kumar, said, “The Municipal Corporation is keeping a tab on the defaulters. The ‘Swacchta Committee’ formed in different wards is monitoring the status.
As per our record, the given target of constructing 31,000 toilets was achieved in September 2017 itself. Also, the survey done by RMC suggests that maximum beneficiaries who have constructed toilets at their homes are using it.”
