40% of people still defecate in the open: ACS

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 9

Additional Chief Secretary Navraj Sandhu on Monday said around 40 per cent people still defecate in the open though toilets had been constructed in 86 per cent households of the state.

“It is a challenge for society and the Swachh Haryana, Swachh Bharat mission. All should change their mindset to encourage toilet use,” she added.

Addressing DCs, ADCs and other district-level officials at a state-level workshop on the “Swachh Haryana, Swachh Bharat” mission, she asked them to initiate steps to make Haryana free from open defecation by 2016.

She said the workshop was aimed at formulating a plan for “toilets for all” in the state. Several programme have been initiated to encourage people for toilet use, the ACS said.

Ajay Sinha, Chief Operations Officer, Feedback Foundation, said, “It is a matter of self-respect to make the state free from open defecation. It is disappointing that most of the people are not using toilets despite having the facility at their households.”