Patna: A bizarre punishment fixed by a village court in Bihar for open defecation has led to sudden increase of greenery in the state. In the past one month, more than 100 neem trees or Indian lilac (Azadirachta indica) have been planted at a village, thanks to the punishment.
This follows a village court ordering the “violators” to plant at least five neem trees as punishment for defecating in the open. Very soon the plantation drive picked up speed as the number of violators increased fast.
Reports said Piparasi block which falls in West Champaran district had got the rare distinction of having been officially declared as a place free from open defecation in a shortest span of time in April 2016. As many as 7,000 toilets were constructed in mere 56 days.
But old habits, it’s said, die hard. Although the villagers constructed toilets at home, their habit for defecating in the open continued, thus earning a bad name for this block. It was here that the local village council chief Urmila Devi stepped in and held a meeting last month over the issue.
The meeting held under her chairmanship decided to shame the defaulters by offering bouquets and then asking them to plant at least five neem trees as a punishment. She also constituted “cleanliness courts” in six wards to try the defaulters. The unique campaign is now bearing fruits now.
“We were compelled to take action against villagers as their acts were bringing disrepute to our village council. But the punishment fixed for open defecation has helped us in double ways,” the village council chief told the media on Monday.
“While on the one hand, it has checked the cases of open defecation, on the other it has resulted in tree plantation in our areas. So far, more than 100 trees have been planted along the roads,” she added.
Local villagers too have hailed the village court’s punishment. “The punishment awarded to me has given up my habit of open defecation,” said Suresh Giri, one of the villagers punished by the village council, adding “It’s (tree plantation punishment) a nice thinking about saving environment.
Digvijay Singh, another villager punished by the court, too is happy at the punishment awarded to him. “I am happy to see new leaves coming out the sapling planted by me. Very soon it will develop into a tree which will provide shelter to many,” he said with excitement in his voice.
Bihar remains one of the worst performers in matter of toilet construction and as per an official report, around 16.5 million households out of more than 110 million population in the state currently do not have toilets in their homes, forcing the people to defecate in the open. Right now, only 308 villages out of total over 44,000 in Bihar have been declared free from open defecation.
