Kurtoe Geog in Lhuentse has been recognised as the first geog in the country to achieve universal access to proper sanitation.
The geog has over 150 households. Every house now has a proper toilet with running water.
Ugyen Thinley, a student of Dungkar primary school, is happy “he no longer has to walk long distances to use the smelly toilet.”
In the not too distant past, many people did not have access to toilets. Constructing a toilet was the last thing on their mind. They didn’t see any reason to. The geog is sparsely populated and finding a spot to relieve themselves out in the open is not difficult.
Zomke, a villager, said they didn’t realise the health risks.
“With advices from the health staff, we now understand the benefits of having a clean and proper toilet.”
According to the Bhutan Multiple Indicator Survey 2010, 58 percent of the people have access to improved sanitation.
