ITANAGAR, Jan 19 - Arunachal Government today celebrated the attainment of 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) status under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in a function at Assembly Secretariat here.
The State had achieved the status of 100 per cent ODF State on December 31 last � 22 months ahead of the national deadline of October 2, 2019 � as per Baseline Survey (BLS)-2012 under SBM (Gramin). Arunachal now ranks 7th in the country and second in NE after Sikkim to become ODF.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Pema Khandu credited the achievement to the people of Arunachal. He said, �The achievement is rare for the reason that it came one year and 10 months ahead of national target of October 2019, Khandu said amidst a loud ovation.
The CM, however, cautioned the department to maintain sustainability and continuity of the status. �Herculean task is to maintain the ODF status,� he said.
�Now that 100 percent ODF has been achieved in Gramin level, the urban area needs also to be declared cent per cent ODF,� Khandu said while directing the UD Department to put in extra effort to achieve the same.
