Patna: Bihar is building more than a lakh toilets every day, according to latest data of the Swachh Bharat Mission, and in the last five days more than five lakh toilets have been constructed.

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) specialist of Unicef India, Sujoy Majumdar, revealed this at a consultation programme organised by the state chapter of Unicef in the state capital on Monday.

Community-oriented initiatives were changing the open defecation scenario in the state slowly but steadily, said Unicef Bihar chapter's communication specialist Nipurnh Gupta.

"In Rohtas and Sitamarhi districts, children have been successful in converting open grounds (where people used to defecate) into playgrounds. Unicef had provided children cricket and football kits and now children are playing on the open grounds. They don't allow people to defecate on the open ground as they have developed a feeling of ownership for the ground. These are some of the innovative practices which are helping in making the ODF (open defecation free) programme successful," Gupta said.

Unicef India head Yasmin Ali Haque talked about community-based approaches in the ODF programme she came across in Gaya district. "Children have changed into swachhagrahis (Swachh Bharat volunteers) and they are engaging in dialogue with the community and helping them understand the importance of having toilets at home. I found an eight-year-old girl motivating people on this issue. I asked her whether she got scolded by the elders in the villages when she went to guide them, she said she used to talk politely to people which was doing wonders. Open defecation is also a behavioural programme. We cannot force individuals to deter from the practice. Communication can play a big role in making ODF programme successful<>," said Haque.

Unicef India's WASH specialist Sujoy talked about Union government's initiative of seeking toilet-related experience of primary school students. "The students have to feed to data online in which they have to tell about the condition of toilets in their school," he pointed out.

Unicef Bihar chief Asadur Rahman and WASH specialist at Unicef Bihar, Praveen More, were among the other dignitaries present on the occasion.