With the objective to device a concrete plan for making villages under Gharghoda and Tamnar block  as Open Defecation Free (ODF), a meeting-cum-workshop was recently convened by District Collector Alarmelmangai D.

During the meeting-cum-workshop attended by Government officials and office-bearers of panchayat bodies, detailed discussion was held to weed out the practice of open defecation.

Realizing the disadvantages and problems appearing due to open defecation, officials, field staff and sarpanchs of the two blocks have taken the oath of achieving the status of ODF villages by December 21 this year.

“Cleanliness drive in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district has now transformed into a public campaign and people here are displaying active participation in the drive. Besides, constructing toilets with own expenses, people in rural parts of the district are also encouraging others for toilet construction and quitting the practice of open defecation,” said Collector Alarmelmangai.

Addressing the meeting,  she said, with the initiative taken up by the public within a short time, Raigarh has emerged as one of the leading districts in Chhattisgarh regarding ODF.

The Collector expressed happiness over the commitment being of the public as well as the Government machineries and public representatives to achieve ODF status for villages under the two blocks.

She also issued specific directives to officials concerned for providing requisite assistance to villagers in this connection.

Alarmelmangai also directed officials concerned for focusing on quality and timely completion of works. 

The Collector further said that residents of villages under the two blocks must work enthusiastically for meeting the ODF target by December 21, so that the two blocks will be declared as ODF and honoured on Republic Day.

In the meantime, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the District Panchayat Deepak Kumar highlighted the threats linked with open defecation and its adverse effects.