<p class="title">The declaration of the district as open defecation free has remained merely an announcement. The water crisis, general practice and personal reasons have become a hindrance for open defecation-free district in real sense. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The district was declared open defecation-free in 2018. According to a survey conducted by the Zilla Panchayat, financial assistance was given for the construction of 74,036 toilets since the beginning of Swaccha Bharath Mission. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Water is supplied through tankers to 60 villages in plateau region in the district even during monsoon. In spite of having toilets, many are unutilised.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As a result, farmland and water bodies have become spaces for defecating. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Lakhya village resident Kenchappa said, “There is an acute shortage of water in the village. Water is supplied once in two days through tankers. As a result, toilets are not utilised and we have to depend on open spaces to attend nature’s call.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Zilla Panchayat Project Director Vittal said, “We have achieved progress and declared as open defecation free district. There may be cases of people not using a toilet due to personal problems and the water crisis.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">The villagers in Hiremagaluru, Kalludoddi and Gavanahalli still defecate in open and carry a tumbler of water with them.</p>
<p class="title">The declaration of the district as open defecation free has remained merely an announcement. The water crisis, general practice and personal reasons have become a hindrance for open defecation-free district in real sense. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The district was declared open defecation-free in 2018. According to a survey conducted by the Zilla Panchayat, financial assistance was given for the construction of 74,036 toilets since the beginning of Swaccha Bharath Mission. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Water is supplied through tankers to 60 villages in plateau region in the district even during monsoon. In spite of having toilets, many are unutilised.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As a result, farmland and water bodies have become spaces for defecating. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Lakhya village resident Kenchappa said, “There is an acute shortage of water in the village. Water is supplied once in two days through tankers. As a result, toilets are not utilised and we have to depend on open spaces to attend nature’s call.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Zilla Panchayat Project Director Vittal said, “We have achieved progress and declared as open defecation free district. There may be cases of people not using a toilet due to personal problems and the water crisis.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">The villagers in Hiremagaluru, Kalludoddi and Gavanahalli still defecate in open and carry a tumbler of water with them.</p>