Despite having toilets, MP-hostel girls forced to defecate in open
What's the story
Over 100 girl students of a government hostel in Madhya Pradesh are forced to defecate and bathe in the open because of water scarcity in toilets, says its warden, at a time when every state is trying to achieve the 'Open Defecation Free (ODF)' tag. The hostel in Madiyadoh village has toilets, but shortage of water has rendered them useless, an official said.
Open defecation
Bore-wells of hostel dried up, girls defecate near drain
"Both the bore-wells of the hostel have dried up. So, there is no water in the hostel for the past one month," said hostel warden Kanti Ahirwar. "Hence, the hostel's inmates, Class 6 to 12 students, are forced to go to the nullah (drain), about 2km from the hostel to relieve themselves and I accompany them," added warden.
No heed to problem
District officials paid no heed to the issue
Ahirwar said that senior district officials had been informed about the problem on several occasions, but there is no change in the situation. "The hostel management is somehow arranging water for drinking, but getting water for other purposes is not possible," the warden said. The girls are forced to wash their clothes in the nullah water and take bath there, she said.
Data
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan officials too expressed helplessness
She said senior officials associated with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a central government education program, were also informed about the problem, but they, too, expressed helplessness in resolving the water scarcity issue.
Water arrangement
District collector asked officials to arrange water for hostel
As soon as, the photos of the girls going for open defecation appeared in the local media, District Collector Shriniwas Sharma took note of the problem and asked officials concerned to look into the issue. "No officer had informed me about this problem. I have now directed officers concerned to arrange water at the hostel," he added.