Mizoram is awaiting centre’s nod to be declared as open defecation free state. Of the eight districts in the state, seven were declared as open defecation free last year. The last hurdle was Siaha district.
The southern district of Siaha is the remotest of the districts in Mizoram. It shares borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Many villages are still landlocked and stood as the last hurdle for Mizoram state in achieving open defecation free status.
Mizoram PHE department secretary KT Beichho told Northeast Now that Siaha district had already sent report and soon be certified by the ministry concerned.
According to Beichho, Siaha district in Mizoram was the last hurdle to achieve an open defecation free state status.
“PHE department had made all out efforts to achieve the status. Now Siaha district is awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation,” Beichho said.
According to PHE department baseline survey of 2012, there were 30067 households without proper toilets in Mizoram. The department projected that it would achieve the feat by March 2018.
“The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will give the state government a sum of Rs 30 crore to be used for enhancements of toilets across the state and for treatment of solid and liquid waste,” KT Beichho said.