Nellore: Though Nellore bagged first place in the state in the construction of toilets and was declared as and Open Defecation Free (ODF) district in the state, the utility of the toilets is below 80 per cent much to the dismay of the officials and other stakeholders in the ambitious programme. In this backdrop, stakeholders are embarking on a 41-day deeksha similar to Ayyappa and Bhavani deeksha starting on Sunday to cultivate the habit of using toilets in 950 gram panchayats in Nellore.
“We are confident of a change in attitude of people because any practice continued for 41 days will become a habit,” maintains in-charge collector A. Md. Imtiaz. The deeksha is named as ‘atmagourava deeksha’ and every panchayat will have a venue to launch a relay hunger strike against open defecation and take up different activities everyday. The stakeholders including officials will wear white colour clothes, a scarf, a wrist band and a ribbon to indicate that they are in deeksha.
Cartoon exhibition on the benefits of using toilets will be arranged beside the venue and all government offices will display publicly, material pertaining to atmagaurava deeksha during the 41 day period. A run of pride will be organised on December 12 in every mandal and district-level. The vigilance committee will hoist a green flag at houses with 100 per cent utility of toilet.
WhatsApp groups will be created by officials at all mandals and gram panchayats. Drawing competitions, sand art and kite-flying will be held after confirming the dates. Students should take a self-respect pledge during assembly on a daily. Awareness programmes will be held in all schools and colleges to make use of services of the students to prevent open defecation.
