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TOILET COvERAGE
they garnered when they announced the
building of a new toilet in their homes. April 2017 : 38%
However, this approach only made small May 2018: 65%
inroads into the Mission’s goal.

vILLAGES DECLARED ODf
TURNING POINT
The campaign’s path breaking moment April 2017: 135
occurred seven months later. On November
19, the SBM team conducted ‘Swachhata May 2018: 700
Melas’ (cleanliness fairs) in all 11 blocks of
Saharanpur to commemorate World Toilet
Day. Medical officers from community health
centres in each block provided free primary
health check-ups to people attending the
fairs. During these check-ups, the medical
officers would ascertain whether the residents
had toilets. If the answer was no, they were
provided with information on the necessity to
build and use toilets. Customised prescription
pads were printed with the message of how
good sanitation results in better health. Zila Swachh Bharat Prerak programme has
helped Namrata Tomar observe the operation
A painting competition was organised of the government’s community development
in the week preceding the fairs, and prizes initiatives closely
were distributed at the fairs. Cultural events
were also organised on the occasion. Villagers the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaboration
were shown videos on how to construct pits Council. Sessions were conducted with
for the toilets. These initiatives triggered mass villagers in three blocks in the district.
awareness about the need to construct and use She also conducted a ‘Train the Trainer’
toilets. As of now, 250 Gram Panchayats (GPs) programme on menstrual health management.
in these 11 blocks have already been declared “I was overwhelmed by the applause and
open defecation free (ODF). appreciation I received from senior officials
The SBM team built upon this initial for my efforts,” she exults. They no longer
success by encouraging these GPs to inspire considered her a novice.
residents from other villages. Awareness of ZSBP has provided Namrata with the
sanitation and personal hygiene is on the rise in opportunity to observe the operation of
Saharanpur, and Namrata is confident that the the government’s community development
district will achieve ODF status by end of 2018. initiatives from close quarters. Her success
in furthering these initiatives has resulted in
THE PATH fORWARD increased self-confidence, and Namrata is
Namrata is not resting on her laurels. looking forward to pursuing a career in policy
Alongside emphasising the ill-effects of open research. She is drawn towards the intricacies
defecation, she also initiated a programme on of designing developmental schemes for
menstrual health management with the help of community welfare. ˜

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