Students take the pledge to make Jeypore town ODF

KORAPUT: Students of government schools and colleges in Jeypore on Thursday took oath to make the town open defecation free.
They pledged to use toilets and create awareness among family and neighbours about the ill-effects of defecating in the open. Students will be given whistles to blow if they see other children defecating in the open.
"We organised the oath-taking ceremony to create awareness among school students about the use of toilets," said Sanjay Acharya, executive officer, Jeypore municipality.
As part of the initiative, 'swachhata patras' were distributed among students of primary and high schools and colleges. It was read out by them at the school prayer. "Most households in our area do not have toilets. They attend to nature's call in the open. Hence, I urge them to use community toilets constructed in our area," said Gayatri Bairagi, a Class VIII student of upper primary school, Parabeda.
Official sources said at present the municipality has constructed nine community toilets at different places in Jeypore and every day at least five mobile toilets are stationed close to slum areas that do not have community toilets. "Door-to-door campaigns are being undertaken and posters and banners being put up. People are being urged to use mobile and community toilets rather than defecating in the open as the habit leads to several diseases besides making the environment dirty," said Acharya. "We aim to make the town ODF by October 2. If required more community toilets will be constructed," he added.
People have welcomed the municipality's move to make the town ODF as people defecating in the open not only suffer from various diseases but also tarnish the town's image.