CLTS Foundation Global conducts Training of Trainers workshop in Nuh District of Haryana

CLTS Foundation Global, as a part of its collaborative efforts with Government of Haryana and World Bank India is organising a five-day CLTS training workshop in Nuh district of Haryana from 13 to 17 February 2017.

It is the third in the series of trainings that CLTS Foundation Global has organized in Haryana as part of the institutional capacity building for SBM (G) to boost efforts of elimination of open defecation in the state. 70 participants have participated from 5 districts of Haryana namely, Nuh, Rohtak, Mohendragarh, Jind, and Sonipat. These districts have made the least progress in sanitation by the Government of Haryana.

The participants are from varied background and is an ideal mix of government officials, district coordinators, block coordinators, stakeholders from the community such as Imam (religious leader), sarpanch (village chief), members of local non-profit organisations.

The objectives of the workshop are:

  1. To gain clear understanding and knowledge of the principles, rationale, methodology, applicability and limitations of CLTS, ODF, and its sustainability requirements.
  2. To understand all four stages of the CLTS process e.g. pre-triggering, triggering, post triggering follow-up and post ODF activities including monitoring and verification of ODF.
  3. To gain skills in CLTS triggering for collective behaviour change to achieve sustained ODF status instead of focusing on mere latrine construction with no tangible health outcomes.
  4. To understand the importance of engaging a diverse set of stakeholders, Natural Leaders, and Community Consultants to scale up CLTS.
  5. To understand the importance of Enabling environment and the right policy framework for CLTS implementation.
  6. To understand the uniqueness of sanitation challenges in Haryana, and suitability of CLTS method for genuine and sustainable outcomes.
how to scale up CLTS

Dr. Kamal Kar on the dias speaking to fellow panelists.

The workshop was inaugurated by the D.C. of Nuh district, Mr. Maniram Sharma. In his welcome speech, he has mentioned about the sanitation challenges that the district is facing but also appreciated the sincere efforts of various people engaged in improving the sanitation situation. He shared how he was triggered during the orientation workshop by Dr. Kar in July 2016 and decided to introduce CLTS approach and orient his own staff.

On the inauguration day, various religious leaders (Imams) from the community were also present. Nuh district has a majority of Muslim population. 10 Imams assured that by this Friday, 17 February 2017 they will stop open defecation in their respective villages and will invite the other participants to visit their community.

On the first and second day of the training, the participants learnt about the CLTS principles, tools and techniques. The participants acquired knowledge and skills about facilitation through the introduction of each tool and its appropriate usage. It was emphasized during the training that they are not supposed to lecture or use force while introducing CLTS approach in the community. Instead, they should empower and encourage the community to take responsibility and to collective action. On 15 and 16 February 2017, the participants will be visiting villages for triggering.

Haryana has been in the rush to declare the state open defecation free (ODF) by March 2017 and there has been immense pressure on the districts to declare ODF. CLTS Foundation Global is trying to ensure that the participants in the training understand the proper meaning of CLTS approach and do not compromise on the principles. They should directly facilitate and trigger CLTS with the local communities and provide post-triggering follow up. However, it remains a big challenge.