Uniform definition given to Open Defecation Free

The Union Government, which is running a high voltage campaign to free the country from open defecation, has now given a uniform definition to Open Defecation Free (ODF). Observing that lack of a uniform definition to ODF leads to many problems, the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, headed by Chaudhary Birender Singh, has issued a circular to states, defining the subject based on which the ODF status of a gram panchayat or a village will be decided.

According to the Ministry, "ODF is the termination of faecal-oral transmission, defined by a) no visible faeces found in the environment/village; and b) every household as well as public/community institutions using safe technology option for disposal of faeces."