Terai adds up 13000 toilets even within political agitations

Posted 27 November, 05:18 pm

Kathmandu, 25 November| Agitation and demonstrations for last 100 days have severely hampered the daily life of people. It is too difficult to pass the daily life as well, especially in the Tarai Madhesh region. Markets have been remained closed and road transportation also has been blocked.

It was the being reiterated that sanitation campaign can’t be geared up in the Terai Madhesh Region of Nepal in easy way and within limited investment. Similarly, it had been strongly believed that subsidy was deep-tooted for sanitation promotion in this region.

Just contrary to the belief, Terai Madhesh People have shown eagerness to gearing up the sanitation campaign without any external subsidy during the period of agitations and unrest. As a result more than 13 thousand toilets have been constructed in last three months (August to October 2015). 3425 household level toilets have been constructed in Mahottari district alone during the last three months.

This result has been achieved due to continuity of sanitation promotion interventions in the community level even during the unrest. It
supported for creating value of toilets. “People generally don’t want to be back from their commitment if it is interlinked with dignity of life”, says Mr. Vijay Kumar Yadav, Coordinator of District WASH Task Force and sanitation focal person of District Development Committee, Dhanusha.

1953 toilets have been constructed in GSF Program areas of Dhanusha during the unrest. Similarly, 1080 in Bara, 2386 in Parsa, 1695 in Rautahat, 1171 in Sarlahi, 607 in Saptari and 771 toilets in Siraha district have been constructed during the agitations.

Almost entire working VDCs of GSF Program have been triggered for sanitation and hygiene behavior promotion. Sanitation action plans have been prepared in entire VDCs; daily action plan has been prepared and commitment has been taken from households for toilet construction. “We made regular follow up of the plans and commitment in this period as well”, says Mr. Bishnu Kumar Bhandari, Program Coordinator of Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS).

Local markets also have been seemed supportive for sanitation promotion. “People paid up to one thousand rupees for 30 KG cement in the market of Bardibas and brought it by bicycle”, informs Ms Bina Shrestha, one of the campaigners in Bateshwar VDC of Dhanusha district. The same situation existed in Rautahat district as well. “People have bought the construction materials from Gaur while political movement and protest concentrated in Chandranigahapur; and vice versa”, says Mr. Deependra Kumar Thakur, District Coordinator of UN Habitat in Rautahat.

Toilet is not only a matter of facility, is it the symbol of dignity and satisfaction. Therefore, it seems necessary to interlink the sanitation facilities and behavior with dignified human life.