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Kerala to be open defecation-free by Nov ’16: Birender

Kerala has set a target of becoming Open Defecation Free (ODF) by November 2016.  “Kerala has drawn a detailed action plan has to achieve the target of becoming ODF by November 2016. It intends to carry out the campaign in a sustainable manner, under which people will be involved and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be the main implementing agencies,” said Minister of Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Panchayati Raj, Birender Singh. 

He added: “The state is looking into the problems of water scarcity and lack of space. The most vulnerable category of the population will be proactively assisted. The government will focus on quality construction of toilets and proper disposal of excreta. In the medium term, issues of solid and liquid waste management will be addressed and the state also has a plan to develop a trained cadre of sanitation professionals.”

Earlier this month the minister had told Millennium Post that the government aimed to make India ODF by October 2, 2019. “The Swachh Bharat Mission is not only confined to toilets. The other crucial areas include management of liquid and solid waste and making drinking water provision. We aim at making India Open Defecation Free (ODF) completely by October 2, 2019, with which we will mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary,” he had said, adding that the NDA government’s achievements in the past two years was 95 per cent more than that of the UPA-II in the corresponding period.

“Our achievements have exceeded 95 per cent, which is much higher than our set target. The country needs 8.18 crore toilets, of which we already have 2.37 crore in place. A survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in April indicated that 94.6 per cent of the toilets are functional. The figures are encouraging. As on March 31, 2016, 13 districts, 178 blocks, 23,045 Gram Panchayats and 54,732 villages have declared themselves as ODF,” he added.

Since the launch of the mission on October 2, 2014, 176.89 lakh toilets have been constructed, in addition to 10.89 lakh built under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as on March 31, 2016.

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