Racing ahead

From Wednesday onwards Achham officially became an ‘open defecation free’ zone. By doing so it has sent a strong message across Nepal: the nation must change the way it looks at the district. The fact that one of the most remote areas of the country has left behind other more developed districts in terms of hygiene and sanitation is a great moral victory for the people of Achham.

The manner in which the poor and marginalised came together to build toilets, sometimes eating only one meal a day to make their district open defecation free should serve as an example for rest of Nepal. It should also act as a wakeup call for other districts in the far-west to make hygiene and cleanliness a priority.

Achham has received negative publicity for far too long. When other Nepalis think of the district they imagine a place ravaged by HIV/AIDS and one where people still practice chaupadi tradition. Today’s declaration, however, proves all those detractors wrong and shows that the people of Achham are equally dedicated to social improvement. This point should be specially noted by those who came from the capital to attend the program and should make changes in their behaviour towards the district.