No toilets, rains make it worse for Dalit families

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 17

Though rains have brought respite from heat for area residents, it has multiplied the problems of 25 Dalit families of Naraingarh village of the district.

Having no toilets at homes, these families are forced to defecate in the open. Their repeated requests to the authorities concerned for toilets seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

“We have repeatedly approached the authorities concerned for the construction of toilets, but we didn’t receive any help. Rains have increased our problems,” said Jaswinder Kaur, a Dalit woman, while standing with other families near her house in the village.

“Despite fulfilling all required formalities and completing paper work, we have not received any help,” they said.

“Earlier, there was a fixed spot for all in the village to defecate in the open. However, now as the government has banned open defecation, we are facing serious problems. We don’t have any land and are always abused whenever any member of our family goes to defecate in the open near any field,” said Rup Singh, another Dalit.

Bhawanigarh Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Parvesh Goyal feigned ignorance and said he would look into the matter.

“Things worsen during night as they have to walk to the fields. Many a time, stray animals have attacked us,” alleged Jaswant Kaur, another Dalit woman.

Sangrur ADC Rajinder Batra said he would look into the matter.

“I will seek a detailed report and ensure the construction of toilets for all families at the earliest,” he added.