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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
TATA WATER MISSION - A Tata Trusts Initiative 9