All villages in Gujarat to be open defecation-free in one year: CM

Vadodara: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Saturday said all the villages in the state would be open defecation-free in the next one year.

Of the 14,000 villages in the state, 4,000 villages are now free of the practise of open defecation, she claimed, speaking at a function organised by the BJP on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

"Gujarat will achieve the target of building toilets at every village in one year," the chief minister said.

This effort also needed change of mindset and creating more acceptability for toilets in the villages, she said.

She paid rich tributes to the ruler of erstwhile state of Baroda, Sayajirao Gaekwad, who funded Dr Ambedkar's education abroad.

"Gaekwad was a visionary ruler, known for making the primary education compulsory, opening library in each village of his state, establishing the world-famous MS University of Baroda, allowing remarriage of widows, etc.," she said.