Indore district has created history in sanitation sector. Entire district (rural) has got rid of practice of open defecation. lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced this by blowing a whistle at a function at Indore on Monday. They said that sound of this whistle will inspire other districts to become open defecation free. Panchayats & Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava was also present on the occasion.
Mahajan said that Indore has become a model district not only in the state, but entire country by becoming open defecation free. This will carve a new identity of the district. She said that works to make Indore district open defecation free is the victory of self-confidence and resolve.. All contributed their best jointly for success of this campaign.
Chief Minister Chouhan congratulated all concerned for making Indore district open defecation free. He said that it is matter of pride not only for Indore, but for entire state. He said that all people connected with this will be felicitated. For this, a separate function will be held. He announced that Vanar Sena teams connected with the campaign in Indore districts will be provided prizes of Rs. 10 thousand each and Gram Panchayats Rs. 2 lakh each. He said that laptop will be provided to youth Arun Makwana who constructed toilet using money given him to purchase laptop. The women who has got constructed toilet in her house by mortgaging her jewellery will be provided jewellery. Shri Chouhan helped the Sarpanch to wear slippers who had resolved to walk barefoot till toilets are constructed in every household of his village. He said that prizes will also be given to the districts which emulate Indore district's model to become open defecation free.
The Chief Minister said that powers of mutation and division of property will be given to Gram Panchayats. Shri Chouhan said that campaign will also be launched to make other districts open defecation free. Efforts would be made to ensure that all districts of the state become open defecation free in next 2 years. He said that now Indore city will also be made open defecation free. He said that every possible effort is being made to make agriculture profitable. Irrigation facilities are being expanded. After linking Narmada with Kshipra, Narmada-Gambhir link project has been taken up. Through it, 53 villages of Depalpur area and 28 of Sanwer in Indore district will be irrigated.
Chouhan met and encouraged children of Vanar Sena. He also felicitated outstanding performers in this regard. Shri Chouhan inaugurated and inspected an exhibition. At the function people shared their experiences. Panchayats & Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava also spoke on the occasion.
After Nadia district of West Bengal, Indore is second district to become open defecation free. In Indore, common people came forward to partner in the process and themselves demanded it.
Toilets have been constructed in 610 villages under all 312 Gram Panchayats in the district. Teams constituted by the collector have also verified this. Village children played important role in it. Teams of children persuaded their families to construct toilets in their houses and prevented others from open defecation. Rural women also did not lag behind in this task. They created awareness about it visting door-to-door. Now, teams of children and women keep vigil since 4 in the morning that no one defecates in the open.
Over 10 thousand children in the district took part in this drive and are still constantly active. Women composed a folk song to create atmosphere against open-area defecation. Public representatives also motivated people. They also got toilets constructed at people’s houses at several places through financial cooperation. Under Swachchhata Sangram Abhiyan in the district, women and children insisted on males to construct toilets at houses. They got constructed toilets at their houses and also motivated neighbourers for this. They motivated those not using toilet to use it through various ways. Sharm Yatras were taken out in villages and vessels and bottles used in open defecation were burnt in full public view. After becoming open defecation free, Garv Yatras will be taken out.