What worked, what (mostly) didn’t
From funny to autocratic to downright bizarre, the orders passed by the officials in Rajasthan to prevent people from defecating in the open have often triggered extreme reactions. Sample these:
Six villagers were arrested in Bhilwara for relieving themselves in the open.
Orders were issued to stop subsidised ration under PDS to families with no toilets in a block under Jhalawar district.
In Jahazpur, orders were issued to disconnect the power supply to a village where only 19 per cent households had toilets.
In Karauli, women teachers at government schools have been told to mark attendance with an early morning selfie clicked with people defecating in the open.
These are among some of the orders and directives passed and penalties imposed by the Rajasthan government, which is leaving no stone unturned to completely stop open defecation by 2019, the target set under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
As the SBM completes three years on October 2, one thing is clear: Rajasthan has a long way to go before it is completely open defecation free (ODF). And denying work under MGNREGS, putting people behind bars or stopping the subsidized ration are just some of the measures that the officials are adopting to make sure that people fall in line, build toilet at their home, and most importantly, use it.
Bhilwara’s Jahazpur tehsil hit the headline in August this year when six people were arrested and charged under section 151 of CrPC for defecating in the open.
They spent several hours in lock-up before being produced before a court that released them on bail after they furnished a bond of Rs 10,000 each and on condition that they would build a toilet within 15 days.
Jahazpur again hit the headlines after its sub-divisional officer, Kartar Singh, issued orders to disconnect the power supply to Gangithala village. Reason: the toilet construction in the village was abysmally low --- only 19% of the households had constructed toilets . The district collector withdrew the order after widespread protests.
Women government school teachers in Karauli district of state were given the unenviable task of visiting fields near their village to stop people, most of them men, from defecating in the open. If they fail to mark attendance by clicking selfies in the fields, with the villagers out to relieve themselves, teachers will face disciplinary action from the department.
“Although we have been asked to stop women from defecating in the open, we encounter men defecating in the open and find ourselves in a very awkward situation,” Anita, a school teacher, told Hindustan Times.
Officials justify such moves. “At present out of 191 cities, such drives have taken place at more than 100 places,” said Pawan Arora, director, directorate of local bodies.
JAIPUR: