The meeting is follow-up of the Chief Minister's meeting with Prime Minister during his Delhi visit.

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Suchitwa mission is planning to make Kerala 100% open defecation free by November 1.

Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand has convened a meeting of higher officials to assess the position of Kerala in its goal towards Open Defecation Free (ODF). The meeting is follow-up of the Chief Minister’s meeting with Prime Minister during his Delhi visit.

Suchitwa mission is planning to make Kerala 100% open defecation free by November 1.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary said Kerala could not go back from its target of declaring the state as open defecation-free by November 1 as the state should always remain as a model to other states.

Officials observed that availability of funds will not stand as a hindrance in achieving the target but mobilisation of other resources may be a challenge, especially when it comes to tribal, hilly and coastal areas. In those areas, adequacy of fund may be a challenge unless ST department/fisheries department come forward with their contributions.

Kerala has the high toilet coverage in the country with 97% and the aim is now to cover the rest of the three per cent.

Kerala has the high toilet coverage in the country with 97% and the aim is now to cover the rest of the three per cent.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary LSGD TK Jose and Arun Baroka, Joint secretary for Department of drinking water and sanitation Govt of India, Dr Nipun Vinayak, deputy secretary for Department of drinking water and sanitation Govt of India and Mission Director SBM, Dr V K Baby IAS Secretary LSGD.