During the “Swachhata Hi Seva Hai” event on October 2, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath admitted that out of 75 districts in the state, only 34 districts are Open Defecation Free.
Failing miserably at his previously set target, CM Adityanath has extended the deadline to November 2, 2018, reported National Herald.
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However, a government official working on the project told NH, “Uttar Pradesh needs at least six months to become ODF. That too, if Government gives money and awareness campaigns are focused and launched with vigour across the state.”
Other sources told NH, “Out of 850 blocks, only 220 are being declared ODF. This is slightly over 25% of the total blocks. The gap is very big and needs a systematic evaluation whether UP can become ODF within next six months.”
Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation’s website claims that over 46,000 villages out of 56,000 have declared themselves ODF, but verification has only been carried out in 25 per cent of the villages, i.e only 13,500.