Maha govt will 'shame' people who defecate in open: Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the government has instilled a mechanism called 'ODF Watch', where people will be "shamed" if they defecate in the open.

Fadnavis was addressing a gathering here, organised to declare urban Maharashtra Open Defecation Free (ODF).

"Declaration of urban Maharashtra Open Defecation Free is not just a formality. A three tier validation process had been adopted where the cities, which became ODF were first inspected by the local administration, then by the state government and lastly a central agency gave its nod," Fadnavis said.

He added that making the state ODF will not achieve its objectives until the mindset of people changes.

"Now we have a double responsibility at hand. We have to encourage people to use the record number of toilets created in the last two years," he said. "We have instilled a mechanism called 'ODF Watch' where people will be forced, encouraged to use a toilet. If they defecate in the open, a whistle will be blown and people will be shamed for not using a toilet," he said.

He said the mechanism will work from morning until the dusk for the next six months, to ensure people use a toilet.

Fadnavis added a record number of 40 lakh toilets have been constructed in the state in the last two years.

The chief minister said by March next year, rural Maharashtra too will be declared ODF.

He said the government will also focus on segregation of waste scientifically and treat sewage water.