After three years long collaborative initiation and effort from Itahari Muncipality, Tole Lane Organizations, Community people and Lumanti, ward number 6 of Itahari Muncipality was declared an OPEN DEFECATION FREE ZONE on 10th January 2013.
The declaration program formally held in the premises of Laxmi Lower Secondary School at Bajraha – 6, Itahari was done by the Chief District Officer of Sunsari Laxman Thapa and other dignitaries by untying the ribbon on the declaration chart and lighting the oil lamp, Panas. On the occasion, the Chief Guest and the dignitaries along with the people of the communities also expressed their commitments for declaration by signing the commitment chart.
After the formal declaration, all the Chairpersons of 13 Tole Lane Organizations expressed their commitment on ODF declaration and its sustainability. The commitment was headed by Executive Officer of Itahari municipality.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Laxman Thapa, Chief District Officer of Sunsari said while it is an achievement to declare a community or ward as ODF zone, it is equally important to maintain its sustainability. Anyone violating the ODF regulation should be penalized and punished, he added. He urged, the schools and other institutions should play important role in maintaining the state of total Sanitation by keeping the awareness level high among the students and other community people.
Chairperson of Citizen Forum Itahari Lekhnath Ghimire, addressing the gathering shared the challenges that were prominent in the community in early days of working. He said, it is because of Lumanti’s consistent effort and interaction with the local communities that helped to raise the awareness level in them. Everyone should learn from Lumanti’s work that success can surely be achieved if we go among the local communities to share their joy and sorrow and help them overcome their difficulties, he stressed.
Mr. Mahesh Subedi, Chairperson of Sukalpa Tole shared his joy and excitement to see the women participation in such an event. He said, such a mass of women and children signifies the awareness that is in the community and in each household. He remarked the date of declaration i.e. 10th Jan 2013 as a historical memoir.
On the occasion President of Citizen Forum Inaruwa Rajan Mehta, Program Manager (WASH) of Lumanti Rajesh Shrestha and Project Coordinator Surya Kumar Khadka also delivered their speech.
During the program, KalawatiDulal, Chairperson of Sangini Women Loan & Cooperative and Vice-Chairperson of ODF Declaration Committee, Ward no. 6 expressed her heartfelt thanks to the entire community of Ward no. 6 and congratulated them on achieving the ODF status in Ward Level. She compared the declaration event to Deepawali festival, one of the prominent festivals in Nepal after Dashain.
The program was also attended by Executive Officer of Itahari Municipality, President of Itahari Small Town Water Supply User Association, Former Mayor of Itahari Municipality, representatives of various political parties and people from all 13 communities of ward 6 of Itahari Municipality. There were around 1000 people on the occasion.
Prior to the formal declaration program the tole lane organizations presented the mass rally displaying their ethnic and cultural flavored procession.
