The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) officers after getting a warning from the State government have speeded up the task of construction of toilets in several localities by engaging members of NGOs, Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Notably, on or before October 2, all the 55 wards falling in Municipal jurisdiction must be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). According to a notice by the government, if the Municipal Corporation fails in achieving ODF target on a given deadline, stringent action will be taken against all the City Managers including the Municipal Commissioner.
However, clarifying the stance of the Civic Body that is yet to complete the construction work of around 2000 toilets more at different wards, RMC Officer (PR), Naresh Kumar Sinha said that the meetings are being conducted at a regular interval to analyze the work of the construction of toilets at different wards.
“In the meantime, few City Managers engaged in ‘Swacch Bharat Mission’ (SBM) have been instructed to organize ‘Halla Bol’ programme especially covering those wards that are still lagging behind in constructing toilets,” added Sinha.
Through ‘Halla Bol’ initiative, City Managers including the women associated with different SHGs in collaboration with ward supervisors are conducting inspection of those houses that despite getting the monetary assistance to construct toilets on their premises is yet to take up the construction work. Womenfolk from Saraswati Mahila Samiti, Sangam Mahila Samiti and Sarna Mahila Samiti assisted the City Managers in the initiative started on Monday.
“Few neglected zones are being separately covered up under the ‘Halla Bol’ initiative to sensitize the beneficiaries. On September 11, the initiative was carried out at ward number 55. The team led by a City Manager during the interaction with the beneficiaries has given final warning to all beneficiaries accountable for constructing own toilets but so far have not yet taken up the construction work,” said, Sinha.
If the beneficiaries fail to take up the construction work by September 13, FIR will be filed against the offenders. Meanwhile, issuing the list of defaulters of ward number 29, the Municipal Corporation registered FIR against six people who despite of getting warning failed to construct the toilets.
According to the City Manager leading the Municipal Corporation’s SBM team, Sandeep Kumar major chunk have been covered up by now. “Due to some verification issue at ward number 3,7,25,49, 50,53 and 55 construction work of toilets at few localities is pending at these wards. The Municipal Corporation has been successful in constructing approximately, 28,000 toilets out of 30,000 within the municipal vicinity.”