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| No, JK is not 'Open Defecation-Free' state | | Kathua residents reject Centre's claim | |  Arun Trisal
Early Times Report
Kathua, Oct 25: The central government 's claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an 'Open Defecation-Free' (ODF) state is not supported by the facts on the ground.
Recently, the Modi government issued an advertisement and patted on its back while announcing that Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state in the country to have achieved ODF status.
But the government's claim holds not water as the ground situation presents an entirely contrasting picture. For example, there are many village in district Kathua alone which are yet to be certified as ODF. No sanitation facility is provided to the people who have to go for open defecation.
Residents of Rathua, Manyari, Mini Pansar and many other villages of Kathua told Early Times that they were amazed at the claims of the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Rural Development Department and government of India for making false claims about Jammu and Kashmir being an ODF state.
It is pertinent to mention here that RDD officials submitted a report to DDC before September 15 and certified Kathua as ODF district in J&K.
Rautha, a village 500 metres away from the International Border, is yet to witness the Swachh Bharat campaign. The village has around 50 houses. Neelam Devi, Pooja Devi, Anita Devi and many other village women said they feel ashamed while going for open defecation in the absence of proper sanitary facilities. "It becomes extremely difficult for us to use open toilet during cross-border firing," they said, questioning the Modi government claims of JK being ODF state.
Tara Chand, Sunil Kumar, Vijay Kumar and many other villagers disclosed that many surveys were conducted to construct latrines in the houses, but after several assurances, nothing has been done at ground level.
Ghan Shayam Sharma, chairman of the Border United Front, appealed DDC Kathua, Advisor to Governor and especially to Union government to verify the ground reports on claims of ODF.
He said: "Many villages face apathy of government and have been deprived of sanitation facility which promote crime against women as the women have to use open space for defecation." He appealed DDC to visit Rathua before making claims of JK being ODF state. |
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