BHADRAK, Oct. 2 -- While the Odisha government boasts of improving its sanitation coverage and achieve Swacch Bharat Mission target, some residents of Bhatapada panchayat of Bhadrak have accused the government of embezzling funds in the name of constructing toilets.
It may be noted that Bhatapada is the same panchayat which was awarded with Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) in 2008. A 'Nirmal Gram' is an 'Open Defecation-Free' village, where all houses, schools and anganwadis have sanitary facilities like toilets and the community is aware of the importance of personal hygiene.
"Not a single toilet has been constructed in our village under the Swacch Bharat Mission scheme which is why we are forced to send our women and girls outside to attend n...