Disabled in Odisha yet to benefit from Swachh Bharat: Study

Despite the much hyped Swachh Bharat Abhiyan underway across the country, the disabled people in Odisha were yet to reap its benefits, a study has said.

According to the study, 90 percent of people with disability in 15 districts have no knowledge about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, while 10 percent, those who have constructed toilets, were yet to get the incentives being provided in the scheme.

On the occasion of International Day for Disabilities, the Odisha Vikalanga Mancha -- a state-level forum for disabilities -- along with Pragati Jubak Sangha (PJS), shared the findings of the study titled "Ground level status assessment on inclusions of Person with Disability in Swachh Bharat Mission in rural Odisha".

The study covered 1,320 households of people with disability in 15 gram panchayats across 15 districts -- Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Koraput.

The assessment was on awareness regarding Swachh Bharat and its service delivery mechanism, installation of toilets with the support of the Swachh Bharat mission.

"Around 90 percent of households neither know Swachh Bharat nor have any idea related to incentives available under Swachh Bharat. Only 10 percent households have constructed toilets, but are yet to get incentives," said PJS secretary Debabrata Dash.

He said people also don't have knowledge on the inclusive aspect of a toilet which a disabled person can use.