Ranchi, November 15: The state of Jharkhand is celebrating its 19th Foundation Day today, on Thursday, and reports say that the state will be announced as an open-defecation free (ODF) state on the occasion by Chief Minister Raghubar Das at an event to mark the event.

All the 24 districts in the state will be declared ODF at an official programme to celebrate the statehood day on Thursday at the Morabadi ground, said reports. The Jharkhand state government said that it has constructed over 40 lakhs toilets in the last four years in over 24 districts of the state under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Earlier, a regional review meeting of the North Eastern States was held in Guwahati, Assam, on Wednesday. The workshop comprised discussions on sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), and rural water supply. Teams from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim joined the review

Key aspects of sustainability such as geo-tagging, verification of ODF villages, conversion of dysfunctional toilets, IEC expenditure, Swachhagrahi engagement were reviewed.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri ParameswaranIyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation emphasized the importance of the joint effort being made by the Central and State SBM teams towards sustaining gains made under the program so far.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).