Port Blair, Feb 08: In order to make Port Blair city Open Defecation Free, Port Blair Municipal Council has proposed to construct Community toilets in various locations in Port Blair Municipal limits under “Swachh Bharat Mission”. One such community toilet is under construction at Bengali Basti, Ward No. 18. On 03rd February 2016 Port Blair Municipal Council conducted a Ward Sabha at Bengali Basti, and 04th February 2016 at Rajaji nagar in Ward No. 18, in order to educate the OD population of the area about the ill effects of the open defecation and motivate them to utilize the Community toilets. The ward sabha was informed about the legal provisions for open defecators, role of Swachhgrahis in the OD area & constitution of groups for maintenance of Community toilets. Ms. Rubana Aziz, Ward Councilor, Ward No. 18 in consultation with the local residents constituted a committee for daily maintenance of the community toilet.
As per the directions of Ministry of Urban Development for convergence and association with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, PBMC has implemented it in letter and spirit on 4th February 2017 in the Ward sabha organized at Rajaji nagar in which the National Urban Health Mission represented by Ms. Swathi created awareness on ill effects of open defecation and cleanliness.
All the OD Households in the area were convinced to contribute a nominal monthly fee for upkeep and maintenance of the toilet. They also agreed to clean the toilet on rotation basis voluntarily by the user households.
Ms. Rubana Aziz also declared Mrs. Malati Sarkar, W/o Mr. Tapas Sarkar and Mrs. M. Laxmi w/o Mr. P. Muruga Mari as Swachh grahi of Bengali Basti and Rajajinagar area of ward no. 18 respectively. All the identified Open Defecators / insanitary toilet users of the area agreed to utilize the community toilet and stop open defecation. An inspiring song was presented on swachhtha by the Swachhtha awareness team.
