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