MANUEL VAZ
OLD GOA
The State government’s haste to declare Goa as an Open Defection Free (ODF) state by August 31 is likely to hit a roadblock, as many panchayats in Tiswadi have bluntly refused to declare their villages as ODF on grounds that several households still did not have toilets.
In a circular issued by the Director of Panchayats, the panchayats were directed to ensure all villages are declared as ODF by August 31.
A list of steps have been suggested to declared villages ODF, which begins with declaration of ward members (panchas) to declare their wards as ODF.
A village level committee comprising the sarpanch, panchayat secretary and Swachhagrahi then verifies the claims of the panchas, which will be followed by declaration of ODF status by Sarpanchas.
Later, the claims of Sarpanchas will be verified by a block level committee, comprising a representative of Goa Waste Management Corporation, representative of GSPCB and BDO from the block concerned.
Finally, it will be followed by declaration of ODF by Directorate of Panchayats.
However, many sarpanchas have refused to declare their villages as ODF on the grounds that the reality is totally different as many households do not have toilets and people still go out in the open to answer nature’s call.
Speaking to The Goan,
Carambolim Sarpanch Uttam Murgaonkar said it is practically impossible to declare his village as ODF.
“The government, in a survey, had itself identified that 286 households in Carambolim did not have toilets,” said Murgaonkar, while supporting his point.
“A total of 42 applications were submitted for biodigester toilets with Rs 1.55 lakh paid to the same, but till date the toilets have not been provided. In such circumstances, it is not possible to declare Carambolim as ODF,” Murgaonkar added.
In Corlim, the situation is no different as 246 households have been identified without toilets and 52 families have applied for biodigester toilets.
Sarpanch Shiva Naik also informed that Corlim cannot be declared ODF until and unless the government provides the biodigester toilets to the families who have applied for it.
Similarly, Se-Old Goa Sarpanch Janita Madkaikar stated that in her village, 68 families applied for biodigester toilets which have still not been provided, and hence, her village could also not be declared as ODF.
St Andre Panchayat too has refused to declare the village as ODF as sarpanch Maria Ruth Cardozo said the government has failed to provide toilets for the applicants and hence, her village too cannot be declared ODF.
However, some panchayats like Chimbel and Santa Cruz have decided to take a decision in this regard at a later date.
When contacted, Chimbel Sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar said the issue would be discussed at the fortnightly meeting.
In Santa Cruz, former sarpanch Mariano Araujo said the issue would be placed at the upcoming gram sabha and accordingly a decision would be taken.
However, Araujo said there are some areas in Santa Cruz where declaring of ODF is not possible.
