Newmai News Network
Ukhrul, Dec 10: Meghalaya has achieved 78.5 percent in the construction of toilets to date.
“To date, the state has the coverage of 53627 individual household latrines and 1108 community sanitary complex units across the state. In terms of percentage, we have achieved 78.5 percent in construction of toilets,” PHE minister Marcuise N Marak told reporters on Tuesday, which marked the closing of the “Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman”.
He said that the Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman was launched on November 19, 2024, to call attention to the need for toilet functionality at both household and community levels.
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“The campaign ended today, the day observed internationally as Human Rights Day because all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, that’s the basic thing,” he said. “Our target is that the sustainable development goals are achieving access to adequate equitable sanitation, hygiene for all, ending open defecation while paying special attention to the needs of women and girls, and those in vulnerable situations worldwide,” Marak said while adding that the campaign emphasizes the significance of sanitation as a cornerstone for dignity, health, and wellbeing of every individual.
The minister further informed that the department has received over 14.80 lakh applications for constructing individual household latrines. “Out of this, we have sanctioned funds for constructing 87,184 individual toilets in villages at Rs 12,000 each,” he said.
Marak has also reviewed the implementation of the mission in the state and said, “I have made it clear that the department should make sure all toilets, both individual and community toilets, should be functional.”
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The Minister stated that the state has achieved 83.81% in terms of open defecation-free (ODF) plus status and added that the land issue is one of the challenges faced while implementing the mission.