More than 36,000 households in Jhapa still do not have toilets at their homes, according to a study of Division Office of Drinking Water and Sanitation. 

Out of 1.81 million families in the district, only about 1.45 million of them have 

toilets at their homes. The remaining families still defecate outdoors.  

The government has set an aim of making Jhapa an open-defecation free (ODF) district by 2017. But with thousands of families still without toilets at their homes, achieving the ODF target is not possible within this year, say officials.

Many people are still practising open defecation, said Rudra Neupane of the 

division office. He added that the ODF campaign in the district did not progress as expected owing to the lack of social organisations to help the drive.

Only Buddha Shanti Rural Municipality in the district has been officially declared ODF area so far, he added. 

Local Development Officer Khem Raj Ojha said to make Jhapa an ODF district there should be a collective effort from all concerned sides.