ODF success: Now, 610 villages in Varanasi have ‘izzat ghar’

Over 300 hamlets in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi were declared open defecation-free (ODF) on Monday.

With this, every house in 610 villages of the district, out of a total of 1,332, have got toilets. The district administration said December 31 has been fixed as the deadline for making the entire district open defecation-free.

“Under Clean India mission (rural), 301 more villages have become ODF. A few months ago, 309 villages were declared ODF,” said chief development officer Sunil Kumar Verma.

Among the villages declared ODF is Shahanshahpur, where Modi performed ‘shramdan’ on September 23 during the construction of a two-pit toilet at Musahar Basti. He had called on beneficiaries in the basti and expressed delight with locals pledging not to defecate in the open. “I got the opportunity to help in constructing a toilet... It was like worship to me,” Modi had then said.

He had also hailed the UP government for naming toilets as ‘izzat ghar’ (house of honour). “While I was laying the foundation of a toilet, I saw ‘Izzat ghar’ written on toilets already been built. A toilet is truly ‘izzat ghar’, especially for women. Villages that have ‘izzat ghar’ will earn respect,” Modi had said.

Verma said that taking inspiration from the PM, all toilets would be referred to as ‘izzat ghar’.

“Our drive will be accelerated. Regular awareness campaigns have yielded desired results. In several hamlets, many locals reluctant to build toilets are now getting ‘izzat ghar’ built,” he said. The hamlets declared ODF include 48 in developmental block Chiraigaon, 45 in Kashi Vidyapeeth, 42 in Pindara, 40 each in Sevapuri and Harhua, 35 in Arajiline, 26 in Badagaon, and 25 in Cholapur area.