Bhopal: The state government may have claimed that 378 urban local bodies in the state, including 16 municipal corporations, 98 municipalities, 258 city panchayats and six cantonments areas have become Open Defecation Free (ODF). However, the facts seem to indicate otherwise.
Even in Bhopal, which was declared ODF in January this year, people can be seen relieving themselves in the open. An early morning stroll through the slums of Anna Nagar, Chola, Bhim Nagar and Vallabh Nagar indicates that the problem of open defecation is still not fully solved.
Against this backdrop, the situation in smaller towns can only be imagined. Mayor Alok Sharma admitted that the practice has not entirely disappeared from the city. “We are continuing with our roko-toko abhiyan”, he told Free Press.
Ramesh, a resident of Anna Nagar slum, told Free Press that public toilets remain locked most of the time. People who have not constructed bathrooms at their homes rely on these public toilets to attend nature’s call. “Even if we want to use bathrooms, we have to go out in the open because of the lock,” he added.
A major problem is lack of space in their houses to construct toilets. Vivek, who works at a tea stall, says houses in Bhim Nagar and Vallabh Nagar are too small to construct toilets. “Many people have made toilets in their homes but there are a few who defecate in the open,” he said.
There is another problem. Most inhabitants in slums are daily wagers who do not have enough money to fulfill their basic needs. Haridev, a head loader, said, “Rs 1300 are required to make a toilet. We do not have that much money.” People like these are forced to defecate in the open. Although the administration has provided ‘Jan Sulabh Shauchalaya’ for them, a sum of Rs 5 is charged for use.
Daily wager Prabhakant, a resident of Shankar Nagar, said, “Jan Sulabh Shauchalaya’s monthly charges come to around Rs 100. We cannot pay the amount. Earlier, municipal corporation had installed temporary toilets in Shankar Nagar ground, which we used. But now they have removed it without citing reason.”
When contacted, Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma said a public awareness campaign is on. “We have made rules stricter. We’re imposing fines on people who defecate in open. Apart from it, ‘roko-toko abhiyaan’ is also being run,” he remarked and added that municipal teams visit slums in morning to educate them about problems of defecating in the open.
