West Bengal to construct 8.7 lakh household latrines by 2016

 The state government will construct individual household latrines (IHHL) in 8.7 lakh households by 2016, said officials.

Within the overall framework of Mission Nirmal Bangla, Nadia district has become the first district in the country to achieve open Defecation Free Status by constructing more than 3.47 lakh toilets for those who did not have access to it in the district.

Nadia district magistrate D.B. Salim said, "Currently our neighbouring country Bangladesh has only 4.2% of its population defecating in open spaces as compared to India’s 30.6%. If Bangladesh can do it then why can’t we do it? In accordance with NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and other self help groups we have been successful in launching an innovative 'Sabar Shouchagar' (Sanitation for all) in Nadia district.”

The declaration of the Nadia as ODF district will be made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Apr 30 at Krishnanagar, Nadia.

West Bengal Public Health Engineering, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee said: “We are very pleased with the commendable achievement in the entire state, especially in Nadia district. Purba Mednipur, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas are also approaching fast towards ODF. We want a healthy competition in the near future between different districts. The state government has been felicitating families with proper sanitation."

S.N. Dave, OIC, UNICEF Field Officer for West Bengal said: ‘’The UN General Assembly recognised safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right. UNICEF is working  with the Government of West Bengal to fulfil this right of its citizen through improving access to safe water and sanitation as well as eliminating open defection practice. In India 53.1% of the population do not have proper sanitation place. Proper sanitation will reduce problems like infant mortality in India."

(Reporting by Adit Majumder)