Kota declared Open Defecation Free on ‘false’ data, say activists

A Despite the common sight of people defecating in the open in urban and rural areas, the ministry of drinking water and sanitation, has declared Kota district Open Defecation Free (ODF).

On the bases of baseline survey carried out in 2012, at least 1,62975 families were selected where 1,54534 toilets were to be constructed and 1, 51000 toilets have been constructed so far, nodal officer, Swacchta mission, Kota Santosh Vyas said, adding 8,441 families were those already having toilets at the time of baseline survey.

The district has been declared ODF on website of the ministry but “official declaration for the same is yet to be made as district and inter-district verification of the same is still underway,” she said.

Meanwhile, the social activists and public representatives have raised their voiced against declaring Kota ODF without achieving the target, terming it throwing dust in the eyes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top officials at centre. The district administration has used the false data on ODF as thousands are still defeacting in the open, Brijesh Vijay, a social activist, said.

Only 42 out of 65 wards in Kota Municipal Corporation (KMC) have been made ODF and there too most …read more