Koraput: Jeypore municipality has roped in students of government schools and colleges to achieve opendefecation-free status and make the town free from the menace.

As part of the initiative, swachhata patras were distributed among students of in primary and high schools, and colleges on Thursday.

The swachhata patras includes a pledge to end open defecation and it was read out by the students after the school prayer.

"We held the pledge ceremony to create awareness and insist on the importance of toilet use among the students," said Sanjay Acharya, Jeypore municipality executive officer.

Acharya said not only would the students use toilets, they would also make their family members and neighbours aware about the ill-effects off defecating in the open.

As part of the campaign, students will be given whistles which they would blow if they see other children defecating in the open. "As most households in our area don't have toilets, they answer nature's call in the open. I will urge them to use community toilets constructed in the area," said Gayatri Bairagi, a Class-VIII student of Parabeda Upper Primary School.

An official said the municipality had constructed nine community toilets at different locations of the town. At least five mobile toilets are stationed at slum areas that do not have community toilets every day as well.

"Through posters, banners and door-to-door campaigns in slums, people are being urged to use toilets rather than defecating in the open as it invites several diseases and pollutes the environment," said Acharya.

"We aim to make the town open defecation free by October 2. If required more community toilets will be constructed," he added.

Citizens also welcomed the municipality's move.