AMARAVATI: By proclaiming that his aim is to have a Swachh and healthy Andhra Pradesh, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has set March 31 as the deadline for construction of toilets in every household in the state. He has even threatened to sit on a dharna and hunger strike if the target was not achieved. "I will sit on a silent dharna. I will also observe a day-long fast. At least then you (people) will show some pity (on me) and build toilets," Naidu said, terming sanitary latrine a fundamental and birthright. He set March 31 as the deadline for individual sanitary latrines (ISL) so as to make AP completely open defecation-free (ODF).
Addressing a mass contact programme of the TDP government, Naidu said, "If you don't build a toilet...if you don't have self- esteem...I will come to your village. I will visit your house. I will spend day and night till you all build toilets and only then return to Amaravati (the state capital)." "The state's prestige is being lost and your health is getting affected (due to lack of ISL). Let us all think of a Swachh Andhra Pradesh," the Chief Minister said.
He exhorted people to undertake "aatmagourava deeksha" (resolve for self-respect) to achieve this. Naidu said every caste and religion should propagate the need for toilets. "If the need for toilets is propagated in temples, churches and mosques, people's belief will increase. It will contribute to the success of the programme."
Of the 13 districts in the state, six had already achieved 100 per cent toilet construction, he said. "The other seven (four in Rayalaseema and three in north coastal Andhra) are yet to accomplish this." Referring to Srikakulam district, where he addressed the gathering, the Chief Minister said of the 4,09,204 households only 1,71,624 had toilets now. "By March 31, I should not hear that there is any village or a household without a toilet. If there is no space for building ISL, community toilets should be built," the Chief Minister told the district collector.
