Post Open Defecation Free Zone Assessment of Chilkhaya Village Development Committee: A Study of Chilkhaya VDC, Kalikot District, Nepal

Abstract

Chilkhaya Village Development Committee (VDC) is one of the 18 th Open Defecation Free Zone Declared VDC (2014) in the Kalikot District with the Support of District Water Supply Sanitation, and Hygiene Coordination Committee, Kalikot. At the Time of ODF declaration, 817 and 269 household had constructed temporary and permanent toilets respectively for ending open defecation within the VDC, of which all the temporary toilets were destroyed due to inundation which left VDC to slip back to open defecation. The study aimed to assess and evaluate the present Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) condition of Chilkhaya VDC based on the individual Water Sanitation and Hygiene service level to achieve total sanitation.

The research undertake in a descriptive and qualitative framework. The research used data triangulation a process of collecting data by using more than two methods. Relevant secondary data was obtained from documents, information on the internet, project record, and other published source of major stakeholders in WASH sector. For Primary data collection semi structured interviews, field visit and observation of the target communities and focus group discussion were undertaken in the study area.

Out of 817 household in the VDC only 269 (32 %) household upgraded their toilets to permanent one, 208 household have temporary toilet. It was found out that 68 % of total household in the VDC are back to open defecation at present. Five major indicators for total sanitation were assessed for the VDC, which revealed that very few households were found in the position to achieve total sanitized status. Technological and behavioral challenges were found to have played major roles in constructing toilets. The peoples’ attitude like “Jamindar/Aguwa le ta Charpi banayena hami le kasari banune” hinder them from using toilets. The study concludes that “More focus should be given on behavior change both during ODF movement and after ODF declaration”, which is lagging in the context of Chilkhaya VDC. Ending open defecation is a first significant step to an entry point of changing behavior towards total sanitation. VDC/VWASHCC needs regular monitoring for the household toilet construction and implementation with high priority of updated VWASH plan with post ODF strategy for improving WASH service level.

The study also analyzed the simple statistical tools are used of analysis between major indicators in achieving total sanitation in Chilkhaya VDC. Of many sanitation indicators, use of toilet, personal cleanliness and cleanliness of inside and outside of households, found to focus more as small changes on these indicators could have huge impacts on the total sanitation which seek deemed importance to declare “Total Sanitation”. Within these main indicators also, different sub-indicators such as construction of toilets under Regular use of toilets need to be emphasized more. Similarly, hand washing with soap after defecation and before cooking and taking meals of many needs to be carefully looked on to. For cleanliness of inside household promotion of improved cooking stove is necessary.