SAPTARI, Dec 17: A few months ago, Saptari and various other districts of tarai were hit by devastating floods. Many villages including Sakarpura were chronically ravaged by flood water. The floods inundated more than 1,500 houses and destroyed infrastructures like roads and bridges. After struggling for months, the life of the people in Sakarpura has finally started getting back on track.
Flood-hit locals of Sakarpura building embankment
Months after the floods wreaked havoc, locals have started rebuilding their houses. With this, they have also prioritized the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign. As announced by the local authorities, Saptari will attain an ODF status by the end of 2017. Due to this, the local authorities have pressurized the flood victims to compulsorily construct toilets in their homes. Surprisingly, this campaign has received a positive response from the victims.
Sakarpura falls under ward no.3 of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality. There are altogether 822 households in the village. A week ago, there were only 172 toilets but after the beginning of the campaign 200 more toilets have been built in the village within a week, informed Manoj Chaudhary, the newly elected chief of Sakarpura.
"First the flood and then the elections delayed the campaign in the district," said ward chief Chaudhray, adding," But we are determined to meet our target this time." The campaign to declare Saptari an ODF zone started four years ago. However, it was stalled time and again due to various reasons.
Ramadhar Ray, a resident of the locality doesn't have a toilet in his home but he is planning to make one within a week. "We were unable to build toilets in the past due to financial and various other reasons but now there are no excuses," Ray said.
