HETAUDA: Residents of Pharibang, Balbhanjyang and Rupachuri in Makawanpur have constructed toilets in a bid to declare the villages open defecation free.

There are 55 households in Pharibang, 35 in Balbhanjyang and 48 in Rupachuri village. The villages are at a two-hour distance from Lothar on the East West Highway.

Most of the households used to be without toilet till some time ago. However, the otherwise reluctant locals were convinced to build the toilet after the local children's groups launched campaign in the villages.

The villagers collected materials such as sand and contributed labour to construct the lavatories. Sixty toilets have been made in Phariwang alone.

"The project would not have successfully completed without our efforts," said Shanta Thing, a resident of Rupachuri.

Chairman of Pharibang children's group Ratimaya Moktan said, "Our guardians are happy that we led the campaign to keep the village clean.'' The villagers had also staged a number of cultural programmes on the sanitation theme.

"The donors will come to assist you if you pay attention to sanitation and education," Makwanpur coordinator of Plan Nepal Dr Chandra Sen told the children.

The sanitation facilities were constructed with an assistance of Plan Nepal Makwanpur and Rural Awareness and Development Society. The rural folks have expressed their commitment to keep their surroundings clean in order to stay healthy.