Elampalloor to be free of open defecation

KOLLAM: In a first in the district, Elampalloor has become an open defecation-free grama panchayat. District Collector T. Mithra made the declaration at a function fisheries minister J. Mercykutty Amma inaugurated here on Thursday. The panchayat achieved the target set by Suchitwa Mission ensuring toilet facilities for all the households under its jurisdiction after conducting a survey. The nodal agency for total sanitation contributed Rs 12,000 per unit, while the panchayat added Rs 3,400, each to around 85 homes found to be having no quality toilet facilities.

The drive is fast progressing in other panchayats like Kulashekharapuram, Clappana, Chathannur, Poothakulam and Adichanalloor. They will also be declared open defecation-free in no time, authorities said. The intensive drive follows the decision to declare Kerala an open defecation-free state on November 1. Swachh Bharat Mission is a national campaign Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on October 2, 2014.