MP passes Bill to discourage open defecation

State comes out with new law in order to discourage open defecation, make Swachh Bharat a resounding success

Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday passed a Bill mandating that those aspiring to contest Panchayat elections must have toilets with flush in their homes. The Assembly passed the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj (Samshodhan) Vidheyak 2016 through voice votes.

The state will now bar those who do not have a toilet in their house from contesting Panchyat elections under the 3-tier system in the state.

“The Bill is aimed at making Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success. It is aimed at ensuring that those who hold office in gram Panchayats must have toilets with flush in their home and only then will they discourage habits of open defecation in rural areas,” Gopal Bhargava, state Panchayat and rural development minister, said in the Assembly.
 

The amended legislation will affect nearly 400,000 office-bearers of gram or village-level panchayats, janpad or block level panchayats and district-level panchayats. Those who contest elections for any post in the Pachayat will have to furnish details declaring that they have toilet at home, along with their nomination papers. The new Act would cover all subsequent panchayat elections in the state.

The state government is also planning to make it mandatory for office-bearers of urban bodies to have toilets with flush at home.