New Delhi: On this International Women’s Day, Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh will witness a scene that no one has seen before. For the first time in the history of Farrukhabad, 7,000 women will march out of their homes to construct toilets in their villages in a bid to make their areas open defecation free. This unique initiative is being run in the district under the campaign named ‘Halla Bol, Chuppi Tod, Apni Kismat Khud Hi Khol’ (come forward, break silence and make your own destiny) and is being led by two women officers of the district – District Magistrate Monika Rani and Chief Development Officer Apurva Dubey.
Also Read: India Goes Swachh This International Women’s Day: Here’s What To Expect
Speaking to NDTV about the campaign, District Magistrate Monika Rani said,
We are starting the campaign on the occasion of International Women’s Day. 7,000 women from some 35 villages will come forward and dig pits for constructing toilets in their respective areas. The motto is simple, to make women understand why a toilet at home is so important for their own dignity.
By March 12, Farrukhabad district will be able to make its 35 villages open defecation free
The district is celebrating Women’s Day not just for a day but for throughout the week and is carrying these unique activities. Several local administrative department, block and village-level officials have been pressed into action.
On March 8, these women will dig pits for construction of toilets, and from March 9 to March 12, masons from the district will be employed for the construction activity. These women will supervise the construction in their areas.
Also Read: Agents Of Change: 5 Young Women Who Are Setting An Example For The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
On March 12, 7,000 toilets will be constructed in these 35 villages and they will be declared open defecation free. The aim of the campaign is to give women a sense of ownership, a toilet is their basic right and it is high time they should realise this fact. If we get a house build on our own, there is always a sense of attachment to it. Through this campaign, we want to create the same sense of attachment in the mind of women for the toilets, said Chief Development Officer Apurva Dubey.
She further added,
Construction has always been a male-dominated area. But, we wanted to change this scenario and instead put women of the district at forefront. On March 12, after the construction of toilets will be over, we will give an award to one of these women who will decorate/construct the best toilet in the Farrukhabad.
The district aims to end the age-old tradition of open defecation by the end of the year by building approximately 80,000 toilets. Currently, the district has been able to construct more than 47 thousand toilets and is aiming to build approximately 67 thousand toilets in order to get the coveted tag of open defecation free district.
