Sitamarhi inches closer to become first ODF dist. in Bihar

Arun Lata Sharma

Sitamarhi : Sitamarhi district has inched closer t0 become first Open Defecation Free (ODF) district in Bihar. The district administration has fixed June 15 to declare Sitamarhi as first ODF district in the state.

The district administration on June 11, 2018, launched a massive drive to dig 1.2 lakh lavatory related pits in 29 Panchayats in the district while 249 Panchayats are already under ODF banner. Sitamarhi DM Dr Ranjeet Kumar Singh participated along with people’s representatives, officials and NGOs in the commencement of ‘Gaddha Khodo, Shauchalay Banao’ programme under Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan at village Punaura on June 11.  Simdega district in Jharkhand state has the credit of digging more than 65,000 lavatory pits in a day.

The district magistrate has asked the youth to send selfie along with newly constructed toilets to the authorities concerned. “We are nearing a mission,” said Dr Singh. It may be mentioned here that the Belsand Sub-Division in Sitamarhi district was declared ODF at a function headed by CM Nitish Kumar in November 2017.
The present Sitamarhi DM is an IAS officer of Gujarat cadre and recipient of ‘Mahatma Gandhi Swachhata Puraskar’, ‘Gujarat state Swachhata Puraskar’ and ‘Swachh Darpan Puraskar’.