Five districts of Telangana will reach the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by next month, according to Ram Mohan, Director, Swachh Bharat Mission in the state.
Addressing a three-day conclave to prepare an annual roadmap to achieve ODF status and to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities here, Ram Mohan said, "The state is making good progress to reach the sanitation target. Five districts of Telangana will reach ODF status by next month."
Telangana government's ambitious flagship programme, 'Mission Bhagiratha', (scheme to provide piped water supply to every household in the state) will be completed this year, he said.
The official, said, "We still have to go the distance in achieving ODF status for the entire state."
UNICEF is organising the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Partners' Conclave with the participation of experts from state governments and development agencies from the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
The purpose of this workshop is cross-learning, sharing of best practice and preparation of an annual roadmap to achieve ODF status in districts including improving WASH facilities in institutions, a release from UNICEF said.
'Snapshots on Sanitation', a booklet containing a compilation of all UNICEF-supported projects in the field of WASH in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, was released at the conclave.
Speaking on the occasion Nicolas Osbert, Chief of WASH, UNICEF India, said "A participatory approach, ownership and a proper system to monitor will be critical to sustain ODF status in the districts."
D Chakrapani, Director General, Andhra Pradesh Human Resource Development Institute, said, "Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka are making rapid strides in achieving ODF status. Maintenance of water facilities, pipelines and washing areas is a major challenge and we need to address these issues.
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