Poonch: District Poonch has achieved “Open Defecation Free” status by providing all households in baseline survey with Individual Household Latrine units (IHHL) District Development Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Asad said Thursday in a programme.
The programme was attended by Assistance Commissioner Development Mukhtar Shiekh, DPO Muzahir Hussain Qazmi, BDOs, CDPOs and field staff of Rural Development Department.
Against 56273 identified households only 6520 (12%) were provided IHHL units in 4 years from April 2013 to March 2017 whereas 24088 IHHLs in 2017-18 and 25665 in first 6 months of 2018-19 were constructed on a mission mode to achieve ODF status for the District. Meanwhile 60.48% process of uploading information/photographs has been completed while as process of verification by specially constituted teams is going on.
The district administration headed by District Development Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Asad had unfolded a comprehensive strategy involving all departments and focused attention was laid to change the mindset of the public to increase acceptability and utility of IHHL units. IEC activities have been carried out regularly involving school going children, anganwari workers and helpers, swachhagrahis, religious leaders, civil society members and others to make the mission sustainable.
The DDC appreciated the strenuous efforts put in by ACD, DPO, BDOs and field staff of Rural Development Department including VLWs, GRS, Swachhagrahis and officials from other departments for achieving ODF status for the district.
