Open defecation free district lacks public toilet at district headquarters

Siraha, June 24: Irrespective of the announcement of an open-defecation-free district long back, Siraha has no public toilets at the District headquarters itself, causing sheer inconvenience and embarrassment to the public.

There are several significant offices, including the District Administration Office, Land Reform and Land Revenue, District Court and District Police Office, where citizens frequent for various sorts of services. But the absence of lavatories has not only caused utmost inconvenience but utter shame.

Those returning home after services at various government offices need the essential facility. Most afflicted with this are the women. The locals complained that the Siraha municipality had been ignoring the demand to construct and manage public toilets for a long time. It has earned much disgrace, they added. The locals further vented ire that the local level spends a huge amount of money on infrastructure building every year, while the essential service to respond to nature’s call is egregiously ignored.

Member of Ward No 2 in Siraha municipality, Shambhu Sah, said, “I repeatedly demanded the establishment of a public toilet after I was elected people’s representative. However, neither the mayor nor other officials paid heed to it.” Although the local level was made aware of this pressing need since the very first stint in 2074 BS, it has yet to be materialized. Pedestrians and service seekers at government offices in the district headquarters are in urgent need of lavatory.

A local youth leader Bhogendra Saha said the toilet is essential not only for cities’ cleanliness and beauty but also for human dignity. He expressed worry as to why the municipality was turning a deaf ear to such urgency. Similarly, the Chairman of ward no 22 in the municipality, Jibachh Narayan Jha, said, “It is shameful not to have a public toilet at the district headquarters itself.”

He, however, said the forthcoming municipal assembly meeting would resonate with the demand for such an essential facility. The locals further argued that the absence of public toilets is also the absence of good governance, inclusive development and failure of the local level to address public concerns. Mayor Dr Nawin Kumar Yadav also admitted the inconvenience caused to people by not having essential facilities for defecation.

However, he informed the construction of a public toilet was a priority. There is a long-term plan to build toilets at various public places under the urban development and cleanliness campaign. The toilet would be managed sustainably with close coordination among locals, people’s representatives and concerned stakeholders, he added.