Open defecation free: 90% districts fail to hit target

JAIPUR: Making Rajasthan open defecation free (ODF) remains a daunting task for the state government with only two districts crossing the 50% mark. Lagging behind the targets, district administrations are not even shying away from using coercive measures in rural areas.
As per government records till July 17, Chittorgarh is leading among all districts in reaching out to the beneficiaries.Out of 2.2 lakh, only 59,000 people are left without toilets which are nearly 26% of total targeted beneficiaries. Barring Hanumangarh, where success rate is 65%, all other districts are falling behind half-way mark.
List of districts that have done abysmally poor are Pali (10%), Karauli (13%), Banswara (17%), Ajmer (17%), Jaipur (19%) and Dausa which has success rate of only 20%. Officials claim that main reason of these districts lagging behind is mindset of people who still are not able find benefits of ODF.
However, they refute that Rajasthan is failing in its mission to achieve targets. According to the official data presented by Panchayti Raj department to Raje in May end, total 58.26 lakh toilets have been constructed in the state in the last three-and-a-half years under the clean India mission (rural) whereas 4,973 gram panchayats have become open defecation free.
But records suggest that to defy their poor performance, district officials are now also adopting bizarre measures. In Jhalawar which is also hometown of chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, teachers were asked by the education department to put check on open defecation in open. For that they were asked to go out at 5 am and generate awareness among those defecating in open.
At Rajsamand district wrath of ODF failure were felt by the old age pensioners. As per the documentary made by Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan senior citizen from below poverty line (BPL) category in Rajsamand district were denied pension they lack toilet in their home, as required under the “Swachh Bharat” mission.