They use public zones like streams, rivers and forest areas for defecation and urination.[break]
According to Ramdeep Saha, the Chief of Department of Environmental Sanitation and Natural Disaster Management, only 43 percent families in Nepal have toilets.
Considering this, the government has recently unveiled a master plan on sanitation with a view to providing the people with the basic sanitation facility (toilets) by 2017.
It may be noted that the government in coordination with other organisations has been operating sanitation programmes in two districts, 232 VDCs, four municipalities, one sub-metropolis and many communities.
So far, two districts- Kaski and Chitwan-have been declared as open–defecation frees zones. Through the Plan, the government has set a target of establishing a Community Fund to promote the camapaign for sanitation and against open defecation.
The Plan has stressed the need to develop the culture of hand washing and other health-related habits among the people.
As per the provision mentioned in the Master Plan, any area to be declared as a zone free from open defecation, and best performers ( individuals, public and private organisations, media, schools) related to the sanitation sector will be honoured by the head of state every year.
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