Vanjangipeta achieves distinction

Srikakulam: Thanks to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Vanjangipeta under Amudalavalasa mandal has become the first open defecation-free (ODF) village in the district. All the 162 houses in the village have got individual toilets now. The village was once known for poor hygiene, where insanitary conditions were prevalent. Consequently, villagers used to fall sick quite often.

• It is the first open defecation-free village in Srikakulam district
• Due to the collective efforts of villagers, all 162 households have individual toilets

Responding to the Swachh Bharat call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, elders in the village undertook the cleanliness campaign on a massive scale, involving all villagers. As part of the initiative to make the village open defecation-free, they ensured that all households in Vanjangipeta constructed individual toilets. They overcame the obstacles through collective efforts.

In some cases, financial assistance was extended to the households who could not afford to bear the cost of building a toilet at once. Space problem in some small houses for construction of toilets was sorted out through innovative planning. Two water tanks were built in the village for effective maintenance of toilets. With this, the small village in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh has secured the national level recognition now.

Speaking to The Hans India, village Sarpanch Pydi Lakshmi said: “Other villages in the district should emulate Vanjangipeta to ensure the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Making the village open defecation-free is the first thing to do to achieve cleanliness. All the houses in a village should have individual toilets to realise the objectives of Swachh Bharat. The remarkable improvement in hygiene in the village helped us keep diseases at bay.”