Madhya Pradesh government lauds eunuchs for discouraging open defecation

BHOPAL: Nearly 300 eunuch have been carrying out a campaign against open defecation under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh, with a state minister today saying that his government's idea to rope-in eunuchs to discourage the unhealthy practice in three districts has paid off.

"The state government's idea to rope-in eunuchs, about two years back, has brought in encouraging results. The cases of open defecation have come down in Sehore, Sagar and Vidisha districts," state Cooperative, Social Justice, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava told PTI.

The efforts of eunuchs in checking the menace of open defecation in villages of these districts have paid off, he said.

About 300-odd eunuchs blow whistles in these districts whenever they see anyone defecating in open. They politely tell them not to engage in such unhealthy practice, the minister said.

Bhargava said the eunuchs are being paid an honorarium for the job.

"We are going to rope-in some more eunuchs as their involvement has been fantastic," he said.

The government is working hard to end open defecation in two years, the minister said, adding that the state's efforts under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan had even been lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme.