Four villages in Northwest Delhi are open defecation free, says Udit Raj

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Four villages – Jaunti, Khampur, Salaahpur Majra and Budhanpur — in the Northwest Delhi Parliamentary Constituency are open defecation free (ODF), said MP Udit Ra, who adopted these villages under the Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojna.

He said three years ago when he had adopted these villages, people used to go outside to answer the call of nature. But he made a team of women in leadership of Rekha Vohra, Yogita Bhayana and Lehar Sethi and educated the inhabitants for not going outside. 

Finally, toilets were constructed inside houses. Public toilets are also constructed in the area. Now, the residents do not have to go outside to answer the nature's call, he said.

It was part of the Swachhta Abhiyan launched by the Union government in 2015, he said.

Raj said a total of Rs 41 crore were spent for development. Besides, Rs 15 lakh were sanctioned by the Australian High Commission.

He said with an idea to make women self-reliant, he got opened sewing centres in these villages, got installed high mast light and also arranged potable water for the residents. A policy has also been formulated for a 200-bed hospital and a veterinary hospital in these villages.

He said he was the only MP who had adopted four villages. Other MPs had adopted only two or three. Majority of them have given up the development of the adopted villages as it was difficult to get sanctioned finance under the scheme.