A baseline survey conducted during the year 2012 reflected that there are only 12,226 households having latrines in the entire Rayagada district out of 19, 9,383 families, which means 18,7,157 families were defecating in open.
By the end of financial year 2016-17 , the office of the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) could construct 81,177 latrines thereby covering 43 per cent of those households defecating in open. “It is certainly a giant leap considering the awareness level of tribal and Dalit people who constitute around 70 per cent of Rayagda district,” said RTI activist of the district Rabindra Patakhandal.
Take the case in Chandrapur block, which is considered to be the most interior. In the year 2012, only three families possessed latrines, but now 2,374 more families proudly possess latrines. The highest numbers of latrines were constructed in Kashipur and Rayagada blocks, ie, 16,745 and 13,822 respectively. One of the panchayats of Rayagada block named Matikana has been totally covered under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)-SBM-G. likewise in Kashipur block, 48 villages are totally covered under SMM (G), which is the highest in Rayagada district. This was possible due to the enthusiasm and commitment of Assistant Executive Engineer TB Sankaran, who was in charge of these two blocks. The least constructed block was Gudari due to paucity of manpower.
As per the statistics provided by DWSM, Rayagada, there are 175 villages and one gram panchayat on the pipeline to be declared as Open Defecation Free(ODF). To have a reality check of ODF under SBM(G) with an approach of Community led Total Sanitation(ClTS), this correspondent visited two villages named Gurunthi and Toskapadu under Matikona GP of Rayagada block.
Gurunthi, around 30 km from Rayagada district headquarters, has 25 households belonging to Kandha tribe. Everybody has a pucca house either under Indira Awas Yojana-IAY or Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-PMAY except one family headed by Hari Himirika. There is another person named Daliga Tadingi who has no pucca house; but the villagers say that this year a proposal has been given by palli sabha and he will get a house shortly. All the households possess Indian Household latrines (IHl) except six families headed by Suba Rao Huika, lachhana Miniyaka, Babana Himirika, Nase Rao Himirika, Mohan Huika and Hari Himirika who have been separated from their parents this year. In tribal culture, when a man gets married, he gets separated from his parents by constructing a new home.
According to Nagesh Himirika and Gahin Kulesika, there are three tubewells for the villagers out of which only one is fully functional. Apart from drinking, they depend on this tubewell for bathing, washing utensils and for providing water to the bovine population. They do not have streams or river nearby. They face sheer difficulties in all the seasons. Summer is horrible. They agree that they are not using their latrines for the purpose they are meant for; but gleam with smile to use the latrines if either the tubewells become functional or another tubewell is provided.
Rama Rao Himirika goes a step further by asking a solar powered water system and says that it will be too easier to use the latrines after accessing water. Sankaran has responded positively and assured to provide one more tubewell to this village. Each household of Toskapadu village has a latrine which is used because of availability of water source.
Tribal villages like Toskapadu are eye openers in spite of several criticisms to DWSM like low quality construction, bribery, utillisation for different purposes, etc. There is aggressive awareness at grassroots levels involving several stakeholders, especially youths and community members. Various IEC methods like chetana rath, rallies, banners, posters and demonstration are being used.