Need To Ensure Safety of Women: In Dudhgarh, man sells buffalo to construct toilet at home

“Kaafi dikkat aa rahi thi (We were facing problems). I have a wife,” said Subhash, “and she has to go out. I was thinking about it for long.

So I decided to build the toilet. I had purchased a buffalo a month ago for Rs 40,000. I sold it for Rs 35,000. I have contracted a mason and the construction work has started.”

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With volunteers across the district, the Panchkula administration is making efforts to urge residents to build toilets in their houses, or use the facility of public toilets to end the practice of defecating in the open. April 15 has been declared as the date, by which the administration plans to make Panchkula ‘open-defecation free’.

Subhash said he was unaware of the administration’s campaign. But, he said, “Every person should think about the wellbeing of his family and building a toilet has become a necessity these days. It is needed to ensure safety of our women, who face inconvenience otherwise. Jo log ab bhi nahi banwa rahe toilet, unki soch galat hai, aur unko badalna chahiye (People who are still not willing to build toilets are making a mistake, and they should change their mindset).”

When told about the administration’s campaign, he asked if the administration would finance the toilet.

The administration was first to advertise Subhash’s effort, putting out a press release on him through the publicity department. The release said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mandeep Singh Brar encouraged other villagers to follow suit and stop defecating in the open. “Subhash has fulfilled his responsibility towards his family and the village by building a toilet. It is time other villagers should also change their mindset and stop shirking from their responsibility of providing basic facility of toilets.”

“We have been making efforts to cover all parts of the district and teams of motivators have been formed, which are encouraging villagers to change their mindset. Such examples inspire others to come forward. Rallies are also being organized early morning, to deter people from defecating in the open,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner Hema Sharma.