Vizianagaram ranked second last among 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh, with sanitation coverage of only 21.8%. Out of the total 34 blocks in the district, 29 had less than 30% sanitation coverage. It was also rated as one of the most backward districts in the country on the basis of various national level data on health. The Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh thus undertook a huge task, with people's participation, to construct 10,000 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) under Swachh Bharat Mission in a record time of 100 hours. The objective was simple - to construct 10,000 household toilets in 71 Gram Panchayats in hundred hours, which resulted in 71 villages becoming Open Defecation Free (ODF). No block in the district had more than 50% ODF coverage till February 2017. Only 44 out of the 923 Gram Panchayats had achieved the ODF status. ‘The district was duly recognised by the Central Government and was awarded the 11th rank at national-level under Swachh Bharat. This campaign was also appreciated by Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in his radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat. Until now, 4.27 lakh toilets were constructed, while many more are under construction. The mission for ‘10,000 toilets in 100 hours’ was also entered in the Limca Book of Records... Read More