Banauli, 160km northeast of Patna, is all set to become the first open-defecation-free panchayat of Darbhanga.
The village has received an appreciation letter from the district public health and engineering department (PHED), and it will get the official confirmation after three months when district officials are satisfied that all residents have access to toilets. On February 7, the villagers proudly installed a billboard declaring its new status at the village entry point, in the presence of resource persons from the district water and sanitation committee (DWSC).
Though it was chosen by district administration for the hygiene drive, Banauli's transformation did not happen overnight. The DWSC resource team of six employees were stationed in the village. A vigilance committee of villagers was formed to ensure residents don't defecate in the open.
District DWSC coordinator Hasnain Anwar said: "The resource persons of the department are usually given two months to sensitise the villagers (about the ills of open defecation). But in case of Banauli, it took almost six months to arrive at this success. We were a bit hamstrung by the Assembly election schedules. It is a community-led total sanitation activity and our role is to motivate the villagers."
"We will be watchful for the next three months," he added. "If the villagers are committed to stay open defecation-free and toilets are constructed, then the district administration team will inspect the village. Only after that a certificate will be given."
Shambhu Paswan, a local social activist, was full of praise for the villagers' involvement in the endeavour.
"It was not possible earlier to go on morning walk because of the stink emanating from defecation on village roads," he said. "Now, things have changed. It is our challenge to maintain this."
According to Paswan, the number of toilets in the panchayat in Singhwara block has shot up by more than 1,000 within a span of six months, which the government helped construct in addition to the existing 1,100 personal toilets.
"If one builds a toilet, the PHED gives Rs 12,000. More than 300 toilets still have to be built in the village," he said.
The population of Banauli panchayat is 16,000, and it has 2,400 households. The Chaurasia caste dominates it.
Many families have offered their toilets for women who have none at home. "Such women were forced to wait until darkness," said Rampari Devi (45), whose family has opened its toilets for women of the village to use. "Now, we have given them the option to use our toilets. They are using them without any hesitation."
Anil Bhagat (50), a village resident, said some elders still prefer to go to the farmlands to answer nature's call. "But that number is minimal. They will get used to toilets," he said.
Anil Singh, husband of the mukhiya (village head) of Banauli, said: "A whistle and a torch have been provided by the department for every vigilance committee member. Now that the resource persons have left this place, it is our resolve to not let down the village. Committee members will ensure the new habit does not die down and lavatory facility is offered to all in need."
A large hoarding with a cleanliness message stands at the western entry of Banauli. Banauli's success and the attention it has received have given residents of nearby Phulbaria hope - that their village too can be clean.
Raj Kumar of Phulbaria village admitted that the number of Banauli people coming to the eastern fields for attend to nature's call has come down. Radha Raman, a medicine shop owner in Phulbaria, hoped his village would also be able to imitate Banauli one day.
Anwar said the DWSC aims to declare 17 more villages open-defecation-free by March 31. The selected villages are Dighiyaar, Harhacha, Sajhuar, Baghant, Parari, Loaam, Jale (south), Katasha, Lalganj, Kasraur-Basauli, Taralahi, Ghosrama, Godhiyaari, Rasiary, Harinagar, Navanagar-Narma and Korthu (east).
"Owing to time crunch, work has been taken up only in Dighiyaar, Harhachha, Sajhuaar and Baghant," he said.
