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toILEt CoVERAGE:
       in Chhindwara’s villages did not understand the
       goals of the SBM-G and the importance of being   Till August 2017: 83%
       open defecation free (ODF).            Till March 2018: 100%

       MAking progress
       Minal and her team conducted house visits   children. The team began to engage with them
       to educate people about the health risks   in households and in schools to eventually
       associated with open defecation and the   persuade the elders to build toilets in their
       benefits of using modern toilets. People   homes. With a highly patriarchal culture,
       responded positively, though there was some   fewer women in the villages would participate
       resistance in the tribal areas. The larger goal of   in the ZSBP activities. However, when they
       making India completely ODF by 2019 struck   understood that their children stopped
       a chord with everyone. Minal urged them to be   being sick once their villages became open
       a part of this vision to ensure that the future of   defecation free, many women began to come
       their children was safe and healthy.   forward and convince the men to build toilets.
           This helped push the toilet coverage   With 100% coverage, Chhindwara
       numbers, but many villages were lagging   district was finally declared ODF in March
       behind even as the deadline of declaring   2018. For Minal, it was an experience to
       Chhindwara ODF by end-2017 was nearing   cherish and learn extensively from. Working
       fast. Minal and her team realised they had to get   closely with the district administration
       more innovative now with the outreach activity.   for the SBM-G has also been a unique
       Along with the swachhagrahis, the district   experience. Minal says handling office-level
       CEO and other local officials, motorbike rallies   issues along with on-ground implementation
       were held across the district. Each rally saw a   gave her better insights into the ZSBP
       group of around 200 riders travelling 2-3 hours   programme, and the larger impact it has been
       across villages, spreading awareness about toilet   creating. “The experience has changed me as
       construction and urging local communities to   a person, and also shaped my perspective on
       make their villages ODF soon.         how such work should happen. I am thankful
           Minal also realised that the best   to Tata Trusts for this great initiative,” she
       advocates for the cause of the SBM-G were   signs off. ˜
















         Minal and her team realised that the best advocates for the cause of the Swachh
         Bharat Mission-Gramin were children and began to engage with them to
         eventually persuade the elders to build toilets in their homes


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