File photo of a newly constructed toilet near Konark Talkies in Rourkela | Express
ROURKELA: The Rourkela Smart City Limited (RSCL) has intensified its efforts to make another 27 slums, falling under Area Based Development (ABD) proposal within Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) limits, Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the first phase with community participation.
Telugupara of Ward 15, Magunibasti of Ward 14 and another slum have already been declared ODF from April 19. The RSCL targets to declare four more slums free from open defecation by August 15 and the rest 20 by next January.
In order to achieve the target, a workshop of various stakeholders was held at E-Library complex here on Monday. Various community leaders, Anganwadi workers, volunteers, officials of RMC, RSCL, Education, Health and W&CD departments besides Rourkela Steel Plant participated.
Inaugurating the workshop, RSCL Chief Executive Officer and RMC Commissioner Rashmita Panda sought collective support to meet the target. Area Railway Manager Narendra Kumar insisted on widespread awareness and community participation and assured all possible support to RMC to make slums on railway land ODF.
The RSCL and RMC with help of Feedback Foundation, New Delhi target to make slums under the proposed ABD zone between Bisra Square and Panposh area free from open defecation with adoption of Citizen Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach.
Official sources informed that in the first phase, 27 slums in 12 RMC wards having combined population of about 37,000 have been targeted. It is estimated that nearly 7,000 of 37,000 residents of the targeted slums still defecate in the open.
Under the multi-pronged CLTS approach, facilitators of Feedback Foundation and community organisers of RMC have been engaged to educate the population of the targeted slums on risks of faecal oral transmission to human and fear of spread of other diseases due to unhygienic local atmosphere. Nigrani (Vigilante) committees comprising slum dwellers also visit open defecation sites in the mornings and evenings to create deterrence.
RSCL sources said thrust is also being given on speedy construction of individual household latrines, community toilets and encouraging tenants in slums to use toilet on sharing basis.Among others, chief operating officer of Feedback Foundation Jyotipraksh and RMC Health Officer Dr Basant Nayak were present.
