Banko Bikano: The journey of ODF BIKANER PUNAM, (District Collector, Bikaner) New Delhi,

BIKANER » BIKANER-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES »STAKEHOLDERS »CAMPAIGN THEME »IMPORTANT PILLARS OF STRATEGY » EXECUTION: TRIGGERING, CONSTRUCTION, SCALING AND SATURATION » BIKANER-SPECIFIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS » SUCCESS STORIES THAT INSPIRE THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF OUR JOURNEY

Bikaner- A challenge of scale & mindset 4 th largest district of India ( Sq. Km.); vast Gram Panchayats Seasonal settlement pattern: 6 months each –village & dhani Easy availability of vast tracts of open land Inaccessible Desert terrain Low Population density: 78 per sq km (Rajasthan Average 200 per sq km) Low literacy rate: 65.13%, Female Literacy: 52.23% Water - A scarce commodity (splly. Nokha and Khajuwala) Women under veil Skepticism due to past failures Rehabilitation of Pak refugees.

The Stakeholders’ Network FacilitatorsDistt Institutional Set upStakeholders PANCHAYAT SAMITI MEMBERS, SDO, TEHSILDAR, BEEO, CDPO, BCMO. Water and Sanitation Program (World Bank) State Resource Group Motivators, Natural leaders DRG / Nodal Officers Block Resource Group Chairperson (Zila Pramukh) Co-Chairperson(District Collector) Member Secretary (CEO) Chairperson (Zila Pramukh) Co-Chairperson(District Collector) Member Secretary (CEO) District Project Coordinator / OIC Pradhan Block Development Officer Block Coordinator Pradhan Block Development Officer Block Coordinator Sarpanch, Gram Sewak DEO, DSO, CM&HO, DD(ICDS) MP, MLAs, Zila Parishad members, Pradhans. WARD MEMBERS, AWW, ANM, SAKSHARATA PRERAKS, DOCTORS

Underlying Themes of Campaign Focus on behavioral change and pride, not just construction of toilets Community led: Bringing the community to the fore (Eg: motivating others, arranging supply, Nigarani in the early morning, Garv yatra) Monitoring on ODF outcomes and usage than just counting how many toilets constructed Payments a non - issue

Pillars of our Strategy Using local language and customs Pride and Dignity of Women Leadership of Community : Peer communication by Nigarani samitis

Execution: Triggering Communities to be triggered by DRG Safety of Women Dignity of Women (Veil) Moonchh and Pagdi ka sawaal Spread of diseases via vectors (like houseflies) Lower expenditure on medical facilities Demonstration to evoke maximum disgust Old-age specific problems were highlighted Nal Badi first ODF panchayat in just 10 days.

Execution: The Construction stage Low cost options communicated (Min Rs K) No specific design for toilet superstructure (Dependent upon Household preference) No third party involved (Sense of ownership) Community support for poorest (Even if single household defecates in open, whole village is affected) Overcoming scarcity of Water (Use of non potable water, Leach pit technology, Why not water for toilets?)

DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF TOILETS (NOT ANY PRESCRIBED DESIGN) TOILETS CONSTRUCTED DURING CAMPAIGN (Apr 13 to Oct 15) DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF TOILETS

Critical Mass & SCALING UP -I ODF status Mapping of all GPs prominently displayed at Collectorate Media attention Competition of pride Peoples flexibility : No standard model promoted Demonstration of easier & low cost techniques by DRG and Local leaders. Snowballing effect and building toilets in bulk. Aged man as well as women came forward to construct own toilets NDTV Video NDTV Video

Critical Mass & SCALING UP -II No political divide Felicitation of Sarpanchs of successful GPs at public function (Garima Sammelan) attended by all Sarpanchs Knowledge sharing by Sarpanchs and local leaders of ODF GPs Incentivizing Sarpanchs by means of publicizing rewards (SLWM) More capacity building of DRG and Orientation workshops April 5 th 2013: Launch April 20 th 2013: First ODF GP May 2013: Five ODF GPs June 2013: 45 ODF GPs August 2013: 85 ODF GPs August 2014: 160 ODF GPs A journey from 29% sanitation coverage to ODF district Oct. 2015: 219* ODF GPs * Delimited as 290 GPs

Execution: Achieving SATURATION Peer to peer communication Continuous morning follow up (by Nigrani Committees and school children) Setting in motion whole administrative machinery to support. (290 officers visited 290 GPs early morning before 5 AM for 30 days) Incentives to sarpanchs (SLWM, recognition, Garv Yatra, etc) and recognition for natural leaders to encourage them to help the poorest

Execution: Ensuring SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is dependent more on what we do before ODF and how we mobilise community (if households make toilets by investing their money after realizing the felt need, it will result in higher usage) Continuous morning follow up by Nigrani Committees and school children Setting in motion a formal & informal network to check. Regular ODF verification process Monitoring by the committee themselves

TRAINED DRG SPREAD IN EVERY VILLAGE/DHANI THEY ARE WORKING 24 BY 7,DAY & NIGHT COMMUNITY STARTED MAKING TOILETS IN DRGs PRESENCE

Active participation of Students

Banko Bikano Campaign Women’s Active Role

Monitoring & Evaluation Outcome Monitoring Transit walk and meeting State level team (mix of PRI and administrative officers Innovative use of Whatsapp. 3 tier evaluation : Inter district teams ( ), State level team (Sept 2015) & State team comprising 3 rd parties of state level officers, UNICEF & WSP (Dec 2015).

Bikaner-specific policy interventions 1 GP : 1 DLO - Setting in motion of whole administrative machinery to support community leaders. Removal of Kikar and other vegetation Botal fodo Abhiyan Local slogans – Tabar Toli Log Lugai, khule men tu shouch na jai. Ghar men jo shouchaly ban jave,to mhari yun laaj na jave. Use of teachers in summer/winter vacations Ensuring it is a demand driven campaign Monitoring on ODF villages rather than number of toilets Underplaying individual subsidy and projecting it as a reward for ODF rather than cost of toilet. Double Unit construction (Toilet & Bathroom)

Bikaner-specific policy interventions and innovations Payment of incentive will be made only after achievement of ODF Status (reduces leakage and ensures focus on usage) SLWM funding was communicated as a reward for ODF GPs (whereas national guideline doesn’t limit it to ODF GPs) Construction of toilets by households themselves, no third party agency was involved for construction (Ownership) Households were encouraged to construct toilet superstructure as per their choice depending on their capacity. Assessment by Journalists, Freelancers, Independent observers (University Professors, NGOs, Retd. Government servants, IAS- Probationers) Garima Sammellan: Felicitation of Sarpanchs of ODF Panchayats at grand public function attended by all Sarpanchs Competitions at schools: Debate, Painting, Poster-making, Mehendi, Rangoli etc.

Media Supported Campaign

Significant Ideas 1.People were motivated using themes of dignity, pride, convenience etc rather than subsidy of the government. Nigrani samitis did peer to peer interpersonal communication at the time when people go for defecation. 2.Let people construct toilet as per their choice and investing their resources. The government incentive is communicated as reward for USING toilets rather than the cost of the toilet 3.Engaged trained District Resource Group for triggering and follow up, with systematic calendar; They were engaged in GPs based on demand from sarpanch/community rather than limiting their engagement to preselected GPs in AIP

Success Stories MOHINI DEVI-Age 70 Years Blind Widow Made Toilet Herself Handicap Sohan Nayak(SC) of Gram Panchayat Bigga baas Ramsara made his toilet himself. Smt. Surta Devi Sansi(SC), 50 year old lady made her toilet by selling her six sheep. 90 Years old HAZI Allah Yaar Khan made his toilet himself and became inspiration for villlage Rawat Ki Abadi of Khajuwala Block

Suggested Improvements 1.The BLS needs to be made more authentic by reflecting grass root reality. 2.Every block should have 10 to 20 trained resource persons in community led approach. Let them trigger community and handhold nigarani samiti for follow up. 3.Let some part of government schemes of every year to be sanctioned only to those GPs that sustains ODF (annual verification of every GP by a third party agency is required rather than making ODF verification a one time activity)

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