Nagaland observes World Toilet Day

Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 19  

Along with the rest of the world, Nagaland observes World Toilet Day on November 19 with the theme “When Nature Calls” at PHED Directorate Office, Kohima.  

The event was graced by Maongwati Aier, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary for PHED, Government of Nagaland. The event was also celebrated across the state.  

Aier in his message highlighted on the ‘Clean India Movement’ launched in 2014 and maintained that it is the world’s largest sanitation and behavioral change program.  

It aims to make India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, 2019; the 150th birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi. In 2014, India Rural Sanitation coverage was only 39% but by November 2018 the coverage is about 93%. The SBM is a game changer and because of good sanitation practices, helped address malnutrition issue and reduce diarrheal deaths in the country, he said.  

So far 85 million toilets have been built by households in India.  

4.5 lakhs villages out of 6 lakh villages are now ODF and out of 699 districts 460 districts are ODF in India. 4.5 lakhs grassroot motivators/Swachhagrahis are stationed in the villages.  

He also highlighted the six pillars of SBM’s success as, leadership at the highest level, behavioral change at the heart of the mission, time bound goal i.e. ODF by October 2 2019, focus on quality and to sustain sanitation gains, monitoring outcomes and sanitation as everyone’s business (Jan Andolan).