Mysuru: It was festive environment at Medini Village of T Narasipur Taluk. The people in the village had decorated the street with mango leaves and drawn Rangoli. However, this is not for any festival but for the construction of nearly 170 toilets in a single day to make the village free from open defecation.
The Mysuru Zilla Panchayat officials and people’s representatives launched a novel experiment at Medini village in T Narasipur taluk on July 12. They constructed 170 toilets in the village in a day. The remote Medini village which has 470 families and already had constructed 300 individual toilets was to construct 170 more toilets to make it free from open defecation. On Wednesday, Zilla Panchayat authorities led by its Deputy Secretary (Development) Shivakumara Swamy (Development) along with the local representatives including ZP member Manjunath launched the construction of 170 toilets in the village. To complete 170 toilets each measuring 6 ft (length) x4 ft (breadth), more than 40 masons along with nearly 100 supporting staff were engaged. For construction of each toilet two to three workers were involved and they took nearly two and half hours to complete each toilet.
Shivakumara Swamy said, “T Narasipur taluk comprises 120 villages and 36 gram panchayats. Already five villages here are free from open defecation. The Zilla Panchayat authorities and people’s representatives of the taluk want to make the taluk free from open defecation on or before November 19. As a part of the drive, the officials not only constructed 170 toilets in the village within a day but also educated the villagers to use them. They also promoted the concept of hygiene in rural areas. The Zilla Panchayat authorities lauded the people by presenting them a lotus. After making Medini village free from open defecation, the authorities will take up Benakanahalli village where if they construct another 215 toilets, it will also become free from open defecation.”
Kadunda Nayaka welcomed ZP initiative in coming out with toilet facilities to all the family. “Really we had difficulties in going for open defecation especially, the women had a horrible time. Many a times while going for open defecation, we had to face threat from snakes and insects. Some of them even lost their precious lives. With toilet facility at our door step, people can now heave a sigh of relief.”
L Gayathri from Medini Village said, “Now we have toilet facilities in our house itself. Earlier it was really a nightmare for us. We had lot of difficulties earlier”.
To create awareness about problems of open defecation and advantage of having a toilet in each house, a street play was also performed.
