The study carried out by Manavlok, a social organisation situated at Ambajogai in Beed district, from April to June this year has revealed that 76.66 per cent of these latrines are either lying unused or are being used for purposes ranging from animal shelter to vegetable farms.

Manavlok is an organisation working to alleviate various socio-economic problems faced by rural population for the last 15 years and has also been coordinating with authorities for better implementation of different government development schemes.

Members of Manavlok checked 874 latrines sites in 50 beneficiary villages in three talukas of Beed district namely Ambajogai, Kej and Parali. These toilets were either constructed under the State's Latrine Construction Programme or wereGovernment-funded and built by private persons.

The study of the villages in the ambit of the scheme implemented during 1996-97 revealed shocking statistics: Out of the 874 latrines listed as complete with the government, only 328 (37.52 per cent) were completely constructed, while 474 (54.25 per cent) were incomplete. More surprisingly, 57 (6.52 per cent) latrines were not constructed at all, while 15 latrines (1.71 per cent) had collapsed.

Only 204 (23.34 %) of the beneficiaries used the latrine for the purpose it was constructed and 373 (42.68 %) of them were converted into a regular bathrooms. 185 (21.16 %) did not use the latrine at all, 95 (10.88 %) used it to store wood for fuel.

Shockingly interesting instances of misuse came to light due in the scrutiny process: At Bhojanakwadi village a person had conveniently converted the latrine into a grocery shop, one used it to shelter his sheep and a third had transformed it into a kitchen. One of the beneficiaries at Nandgaon village convertedthe latrine to use it for growing ginger.

The primary objective of the scheme was to provide latrines to rural women, who generally have to undergo the indignity of attending to the nature's call at exposed places. The scheme was also aimed at improving hygiene in the villages.

Complicating the situation further is the alleged misappropriation of funds allotted for the scheme. The Deputy Chief Auditor (DCA) of Beed division had expressed his reservations over expenditure of Rs 15,56,875 of the allotted amount. In the audit report for 1996-97, the DCA kept the amount under objection, and also mentioned that the same would not be cleared until the upshot of the inquiry came was declared.