You are a young IAS officer and have recently joined as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in a district, which has been declared 'open defecation free'. However, you get information that some villages in your sub-division are still continuing the practice of open defecation out of habit despite availability of toilets. Your colleagues in the district administration confirm that the information is true. You call the village headmen of these villages and tell them to persuade their respective villagers to stop open defecation. But, they express their unwillingness and inability to fully stop this practice, as in some cases they themselves consider it healthy to defecate in the open. You discuss this matter with the District Magistrate who forbids you from taking any official action, as this may cause the 'open defecation free' status given to the district to be withdrawn. As a young and dynamic officer, answer the following: (a) Why do people continue to practice open defecation even when they have access to toilets? (b) What are the options available to you as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in this case? Highlight the merits and demerits of each option. (c) What will be your course of action? (Answer in 250 words)

The above case represents the practice of defecating in open despite availability of latrines, in ODF district. It highlights that behavioral change is difficult to achieve and requires continuous effort.

Reasons for continued open defecation: i Age old practice: Open defecation is widely practiced in villages across India as part of regular routine. ii Unscientific religious beliefs: Belief that households are pure residence of Gods - where dirty activities are not to be performed. iii Resistance to change: Communities are close-knit and are categorically against any new practice. iv Hygiene issues: Many consider latrines as a source of filth and disgrace. Thus, prefer open defecation.

B Options available and their analysis: I No action: - Merits: Maintains status quo, Award of ODF preserved, Does not upset DM, Villages continue practice - Demerits: Promotes inefficiency, Moral dilemma for me, Backlash as per spread of service, Village may become centre of disease II Take official action against villagers: - Merits: Checks open defecation, Punish the wrongdoers, Establish order, Disrupt relations with DM - Demerits: Difficult, tireless efforts, Might not be effective in bringing behavioral change III Active Persuasion, Incentive, Role Modelling: - Merits: i Curb open defecation ii Maintain trust of DM iii Keep being positive social change - Demerits: i Difficult, tireless efforts ii Might not be effective in bringing behavioral change

C Action as an SDM: I Active persuasion, Incentive, Role Modelling: - Merits: i Curb open defecation ii Maintain trust of DM iii Keep being positive social change - Demerits: i Difficult, tireless efforts ii Might not be effective in bringing behavioral change

II CAB Model: Cognitive - Affective - Behavioural Scientific data: NFHSdata (2005-2011) showed deaths with improper hygiene. Giving priority to elders: Rewarding families, farmers to ease access to create clean toilets. III Nukkad Natak, Jan Bhagidari for peoples participation IV Gram Sabha to popularize the idea of toilets at home V Screening of movies like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha VI Role Modelling - Involving sanitaryworkers, doctors, social workers, leaders, panchayat myself to actively use 'toilets'. Behavioural change - is a long drawn out process which can through systematically identifying: 1) Target population 2) Effective methods