Community led Construction of Latrines- Formation of Procurement Committees
Experience from Angul, Odisha
Angul Block is going through a powerful transformation of ending Open Defecation (OD)
across several villages through the use of Community led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
methods. The District Administration headed by the District Collector along with the
District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) have set the environment for the
Community to take the lead role in ending open defecation and constructing safe,
sustainable latrines to preserve one’s health and dignity. Feedback Foundation supports
DWSM in capacity building and facilitating processes on the ground.
Trained Facilitators from Feedback Foundation conduct ‘triggering’ sessions in the
community using methods that emphasize ‘shame’, ‘disgust’, ‘dignity’ and ‘pride’ to
create a collective desire to stop open defecation immediately and break the fecal-oral
transmission chain. Resolution is provided through a date, which the community sets to
become ODF. The first step in this process is covering one’s feces with sand or ash,
ending ‘open’ defecation immediately after triggering. However, after a few days of this
behavior, the community comes together to discuss sustainable, more permanent
options such as constructing latrines for all households. The ‘cat’ method although
provides some protection from a health point of view, the dignity aspects are still not
addressed and this is a crucial factor for communities to decide on constructing latrines
at the household or community level (if there are space constraints).
The Palli Sabha (community meeting) is the forum for this discussion where a
resolution is formed to nominate members (five men and five men) to form the
Procurement Committee. The committees are formed spontaneously in the Palli Sabha
itself where community members who are active, capable and trusted by the
community are nominated. This committee is responsible for the following:
1. Conduct a market survey to identify potential vendors based on their capacity to
provide materials in bulk, of good quality and at the most reasonable rate
2. Present their selection of vendor in the Palli Sabha for a resolution to purchase
materials at the prescribed cost and quality
3. Identify and employ masons to complete construction as per the timeline
decided by the community
4. The committee maintains a stock register, issue register and cash book (for labor
payments)
5. Materials to be procured in bulk (for 30-40 households at a time) and delivered
to the doorstep of the respective households
6. Safe and cost-efficient technology to be ensured in the process of constructing
the latrines- leach pit with junction chamber
7. Beneficiaries to dig their own pits and help the mason during construction- this
must be monitored by the Procurement Committee to encourage and ensure
ownership of the toilets by the members of the household
8. Usage of the latrines constructed by all the members of all the households at all
times to end open defecation is a continuous process to be monitored by the
Procurement Committee as well as the Nigrani Committees
Community led Construction of Latrines- Formation of Procurement Committees
Experience from Angul, Odisha
District Administration releases the incentive provided for all Individual Household
Latrine (IHHL) to the joint account of the Sarpanch and PEO at the Gram Panchayat
Level. The PEO functions as the Secretary of the Procurement Committee and the
Sarpanch functions as its Chairperson. All payment of materials is done through cheque
issued by the Sarpanch and Panchayat Extension Officer (PEO) from this fund. All
financial transactions are approved at the Palli Sabha; DWSM and RWSS staff along with
Nigrani (Vigilance) Committees and the Procurement Committee jointly verifies the
construction of IHHLs.
As the District Administration based on performance releases the fund in phases, the
material is often procured on credit, as the Sarpanch and the community know the
Vendor. At the same time, the Vendor is assured of payment through the commitment of
the District Administration. In case of shortage of material or high procurement costs,
the District Administration identifies suppliers and sets up arrangements for materials
such as Rural Pans at the most economical cost. Thus, the community is supported and
motivated to meet the date set by them to become Open Defecation Free through safe,
sustainable means of disposal and confinement of human waste.
 Procurement Committee to be constituted spontaneously by the community
themselves in the Palli Sabha
 Fund transfer to Gram Panchayat accounts to be based on performance and joint
verification of construction and usage of latrines
 District Administration to monitor supply chain issues and provide support as
needed for efficient latrine construction and usage
Mr. Sachin Jadhav,
Collector and District Magistrate,
Angul, Odisha
Email: sachin.jadav@gmail.com
Phone: 91 7894407070