Is the government really serious about meeting the Goa Open Defecation-Free (ODF) deadline? If yes, why have the bio-digester toilets not been distributed yet? The government appears to be showing hurry but works are in sharp contrast. While it has set a deadline for local bodies to declare their respective areas as ODF by August 31, it hasn’t factored the challenges on the ground.
As of today 14 urban local bodies have declared themselves as ODF, but the claims are pending verification by an independent Central agency and that is going to take time. There are many village panchayats which have come out in the open expressing helplessness in meeting the deadline. Reason: Majority of the households are yet to be given toilets.
The ground realities are challenging and have not been factored in. The ODF initiative cannot be bulldozed through casually. The ward members at the panchayat-level are given responsibilities of respective areas, but they remain helpless when households do not have toilet facilities. The bio-digester toilets applied by villagers are yet to be delivered and the sluggishness with which the system is moving stands exposed. If August 31 is the deadline set for panchayats, the bio-toilets should have been distributed by now. Government has been very vocal on its ODF plans but has failed to show that urgency on the ground. Lest we forget, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had assured the monsoon assembly session last year that his government would begin installing bio-toilets on a war footing. A year later, government machinery is yet to get its footing right.
Secondly, the panchayat secretaries are entrusted with the job of ‘guarding’ the bio-toilets in respective villages. This is another grey area and is beyond the scope of normal working of secretaries. There needs to be clarity on whether panchayats are allowed to hire additional manpower to keep a vigil on these toilets or if it’s the sole responsibility of the secretaries.
What about maintenance and upkeep? Goans previously had a bad experience with Sulabh International toilets erected at households in rural areas. In view of the sub-standard material used and non-maintenance, these structures have been non-functional with some preferring to use them as storerooms subsequently. While the CM assured of better quality and durable structures this time, the way the entire process is hushed up could end up leaving behind a bigger mess and a huge hole in the treasury.
Goa, which is one of states which has least number of households having toilets had enough time at its disposal but chose to be susegad in its ODF approach right through. What makes the job easier for Sawant is the purported resurvey which drastically brought down the toilet requirement from the 60,000 figure during Parrikar’s regime in 2018 to 12,000 now. The figure, however, is still debatable given the topography of Goa where migrants are a force to reckon with.
Historically, Goa has never taken deadlines seriously, be it is the plastic ban or garbage prohibition. This one, by virtue of it being driven by Narendra Modi, will have Sawant on his toes and he will not be in a position to face the ignominy of failure on this count.
