Bihar to be Open Defecation Free by Oct 2, 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar while replying to the debate on his department’s budget allocation of over Rs 15,471 crore for 2018-19 in the State Assembly on March 15, 2018, announced that Bihar government has set a target to make the state Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019. The budget was passed amid walk out by the opposition members at the fag end of the day’s proceedings.

The Minister said that under state sponsored Lohia Swachhta scheme, the department has started the work of construction of individual toilets since June 1, 2016. Under Lohia Swachhta scheme, the state government provides Rs 12,000 as an incentive directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries for construction and use of individual toilets, he said adding the toilet coverage in the state has gone up to 40.83 % from 22.81 % on October 2, 2014.

Earlier, Rural works minister Shailesh Kumar announced that the government has set the target of providing road connectivity to all the tolas/hamlets by the end of 2020.