Written by: Phurba Sange Moktan
DWASHCC decided the date to declare District ODF in Sindhupalchwok during the DWASHCC Meeting/Workshop held on Sept. 11, 2014. The date decided is March 14, 2014 (Phalgun 30, 2071 BS). Representatives from Political parties, Chief District Officer, Local Development Officer, Divisional Engineer-WSSDO, District Education Officer, District Health Officer, Journalists, Facilitating NGOs/ UN-Habitat, CBOs, etc jointly signed the declaration and finalized the date to declare district ODF. “This is our shared responsibility and we should work together to achieve it on the assigned date,” LDO/DWASHCC-Chair said, “This is district’s target. So, all the district stakeholders and each individual should support the campaign.”
During the workshop, all the stakeholders participated actively during the entire sessions and worked out to explore challenges and ways to overcome the challenges. Direct wash-out of the sewerage to the river in most of the houses of the Araniko highway riverside, no access of public toilets, still the subsidy mindset of some VDCs etc. have found as the major challenges to overcome. The workshop decided to systematic plans to overcome such challenges on time.
Followed by the workshop, VDC secretaries from all the ODF remained VDCs interacted and worked out together to declare the final date for VDCs declaration and action plans to achieve it respectively. Similarly, Journalists have also showed their commitment/support towards district ODF. VDC level activities have been going on rapidly in all 27 ODF remained VDCs of Sindhupalchowk with the constant follow-up/ facilitation by GSF/UN-Habitat and other NGO line agencies. Till date 52 VDCs of the Sindhupalchowk have declared ODF with remaining just around 4000 latrines to be constructed/ used. And the number is decreasing day by day.
