Pokhara: Kaski is likely to be the country’s first district to be free of open defecation within few months. "The 15th District Council had declared one-year strategy to make Kaski free of open defecation. We are working on a campaign to make Kaski free of open defecation within the end of the current Nepali year,” said Bimal Gyawali, planning chief of District Development Committee (DDC), adding, “Accordingly, we are working to spread awareness at all the houses, schools and organizations to construct toilets.”

According to Gyawali, almost 60 percent of the work is completed. The remaining work will be completed within the end of the current Nepali calendar. The campaign is technically and financially supported by DDC, Regional Monitoring and Supervision Office, all the VDCs, sub metropolitan, metropolitan of Kaski, and UNICEF-Nepal. The DDC has already allocated Rs. 2 million in two installments for the campaign.
“A toilet in every house is a prerequisite to be free from open defecation,” Ishwari Sharma, engineer at Regional Monitoring and Supervision Office, Department of Drinking water and Sewerage said. According to Sharma, of the 43 VDCs, 15 VDCs have become free of defecation while other eight have almost reached the goal.

Source: Nagarik, November 19, 2010