Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal on Friday announced Kaski as the country´s first ODF district. He hoisted a green flag to announce the first ODF district amidst a function. He also stressed the need for a strong mechanism to ensure that Kaski remains ODF forever. [break]
Three years ago, the district council of Kaski had promosed to make all village development committees (VDCs) as well as Pokhara sub-metropolis and Lekhnath municipality free of open defecation. The District Development Committee has spent more than Rs 330 million to help households without toilets build their own toilets.
Of the total 88,000 households in Kaski, altogether 18,035 households, which did not have toilets until the beginning of the ODF campaign, have constructed their own toilets with financial support from the DDC. Other government offices have also provided financial assistance for the campaign.
“It is better late than never,” said Guru Prasad Subedi, the local development officer (LDO) of Kaski. “Although we took a little long time, we are happy that we gave the country the first ODF district.”
Four types of toilets have been built under the ODF campaign. On an average, Rs 12,500 was spent to build each toilet. Not only households, but also schools have built toilets under the campaign. According to Subedi, altogether 634 schools have built toilets now.
Ghachok was declared as the first ODF VDC in Kaski on May 13, 2007. With Ghandruk joining the league of ODF villages, the campaign against open defecation became successful.
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