New Delhi: With the Swachhata Hi Seva initiative gaining momentum across the country, Rural Chhattisgarh is setting cleanliness goals with their new achievement – 10,000 toilets built in ten days in Abahanpur development block in Raipur district as a part of their Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mission. The activity was done in a bid to celebrate October 2 as Clean October 2 and declare the Abahanpur block open defecation free on this Rashtriya Swachhta Diwas. The work to construct toilets in 10,000 households in villages of Abhanpur block was started on September 7 and ended on September 17. The last toilet constructed in the block was inaugurated by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani as a part of Swachhata Hi Seva programmes.
Perhaps during my entire political life, I am seeing it for the first time that 10,000 toilets were constructed in only 10 days in a block, said Smriti Irani.
In 10 days, 10,000 toilets were constructed in Abhanpur block of Raipur with citizen participation. Kudos to the citizens & district admin!
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) September 17, 2017
Rural Raipur On Its Way To Go Open Defecation Free
The anti-open defecation squad at work
Abahanpur block in Raipur district was one block which was lagging way behind in its swachh efforts, we decided to take action immediately and make it free from open defecation on priority, says CEO of Raipur Jila Panchayat Nilesh Kshirsagar, explaining why this initiative was carried out by the authorities.
He further added, we have one main agenda, we need to make Raipur district open defecation free by November 1 which is also Chhattisgarh’s 17th foundation day. That’s why we are accelerating our Swachh efforts.
Also Read: Raipur’s Open Defecation Free Mantra: Villagers Turn Entrepreneurs By Converting Waste To Wealth
After this achievement, the district will aim to build 15,000 toilets in 15 days in Arang block, the second largest block in Rural Chhattisgarh.
Also Read: They Call Themselves ‘Bunch Of Swachh Fools’ And Their Motto Is To Make Raipur 100% Clean
According to the Ministry of Drinking, water and Sanitation, Raipur district’s sanitation coverage is 77.50% and the district comes under the category of lowest Individual Household Latrines constructed within the state. Whereas the rural areas of Chhattisgarh with 90.31% sanitation coverage aim to eradicate open defecation completely by October 2, 2018, a year prior to the national target of 2019.
Also Read: Raipur Welcomes You With Swachhta: 80 Citizens Dedicate 200 Hours To Cleanup City’s Entrance
