Bhubaneswar: As part of the continuous efforts towards making Bhubaneswar Open Defecation Free (ODF), Phalikia Basti in Ashok Nagar of Ward 41 today became the 9th slum within the Bhubaneswar Town Centre District (BTCD) to go ODF.
Sixty-two families residing in the Phalikia Basti have recently constructed 48 toilets to make the slum Open Defecation Free as some families mutually agreed to share the toilets due to space constraints.
As the residents proudly celebrated the feat of success by taking out a “Gaurav Padayatra’’ (Walk of Pride) for becoming ODF, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty joined them recognising their efforts towards making a cleaner city environment. Among others, Deepak Routrai, GM (Operations), BSCL, Binaya Kumar Dash, Zonal Dy. Commissioner (South East), BMC, Santosh K Mishra, OSD, BSCL and ward councillor Mamata Sahoo along with officials of city agencies, Feedback Foundation were present in this Gaurav Padayatra.
During the brief interactive programme after the walk of pride, the residents of the slum shared their experience and journey towards attaining ODF status. Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena appreciated the efforts off the “Nigrani’’ or surveillance committee, which kept a tight vigil for curbing open defecation in the slum braving the odds of heavy rains and hardships. MLA Bijaya Mohanty lauded the combined efforts put together by all to set an example for other slums across the smart district area. He also advised them to campaign in nearby slums in helping them become ODF in quick time. Taking pride in the success of the slum residents, Ward Councillor Mamata Sahoo recounted her experience during triggering activity in the slum and said that she never expected that the feat will be achieved in such a short span of time.
It can be mentioned here that the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) in association with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has taken up an effective strategy to end open defecation and has engaged Feedback Foundation to make all the 24 slums in the entire BTCD area Open Defecation Free (ODF). So far, nine slums in the BTCD area have become ODF while few others are expected to attain the feat in near future.
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