Soon Karnataka will be free of open defecation

Bengaluru: Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Rural development and Panchayat Raj, on Friday said 23 districts have already been publicized ODF and the government is in the near stages of adding the tag to the rest of the places that would be free of open defecation.

Karnataka will be declared an open defecation free (ODF) state in a month from now. Itheeq AK, RDPR principal secretary, said the government is working to time the declaration with Kannada Rajyotsava on November 1. 

Byre Gowda said, “The achievement is not just about constructing toilets. What we need is to bring about changes in behaviour and lifestyle.” Observing that effective conversations will play a major role in creating awareness, the minister said the government wants to use mobile connectivity in rural areas to spread the word.