Ranchi, Sept. 23: Kersai in Simdega is completing last-minute formalities to become the first tribal-dominated block in Jharkhand to be declared open defecation free (ODF) by no less than the Prime Minister later this month, hoping to pip to the post two other blocks, Churchu in Hazaribagh and Dulmi in Ramgarh, that have already staked claim to that status.
"Verifications by panchayat samitis have been completed. Now, a district committee is conducting community verification that is expected to be completed tomorrow afternoon. Thereafter, we will request the drinking water and sanitation department to send a team of experts for cross examination in tune with set guidelines and forward a report to the Centre," said Simdega deputy commissioner Vijoy Kumar Singh.
The commissioner, whose concerted efforts in the area have already been praised by the PMO, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to meet them at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on September 30. "We want to set a good example before him," he added.
Located 45km from Simdega district headquarters and 205km from Ranchi, Kersai block has 21 revenue villages with 7,500 households. The block also has the rare distinction of having an even male- female ratio.
"About 82 per cent of households belong to tribals, while 5 per cent belong to scheduled castes. None of these households had a toilet. There were only 300 toilets, when we began groundwork about a year ago. We have built 7,200 personal toilets now," elaborated district Swachh Bharat Abhiyan consultant Krishna Kumar, who added that they had also taken care to decorate the walls with paintings and slogans to encourage people to use the toilets.
Sources claimed Churchu and Dulmi blocks, both claimants to the first-off-the-block title, had not yet completed community verification which could make it difficult for them to get ODF status on September 30.
"In Churchu, community verification by panchayat committees have been completed and the district committee would be cross-checking these soon. Construction of toilets in the adjoining Dari block too has nearly been completed. We have also formed vigilance teams to motivate people to use these toilets," said Hazaribagh deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla.
Among the measures he is adopting to prevent people from answering nature's call in the open were blowing of whistles, lighting torches and showering offenders with coloured water. Those who continued to defy the authorities, he added, would be made an example of by garlanding them publicly.
Both Churchu and Dari blocks have a tribal population of 35 per cent. Churchu is also a rebel hub. It has around 10,000 households in which barely 2,000 had toilets. The district administration claims it has built 8,000 personal toilets there.
Dari block has around 1,500 CCL residential quarters with toilets. The district administration claims work is on tot build as many as 8,000 toilets there.
All is not well at Dulmi block. Ramgarh deputy commissioner Rajeshwari B has admitted receiving complaints that all not all residents were using their toilets. She wasn't aware whether community verification had been completed, but promised to initiate necessary action.
