“Jawaharlal Nehru said that the day every citizen of India will get toilet to use, I shall know that the country has reached the pinnacle of the success.”
SANITATION & OPEN DEFECATION:
The word “Sanitation” is one of the last topics which will be discussed in our country.
Why so?
Plainly because there is no explanation yet as to why over half a billion Indians (0.6 billion) or if I might say nearly 50% of our country’s population defecates in the open.
Defecating in the open is almost in the rural areas. If you ask a villager why they do it, they will give you a simple answer i.e. “THERE IS NO TOILET!!!”
Also another reason is due to the “Lack of Awareness” among the rural population alongside their behavioral preferences.
It hurts when I have to break the news but did you know that we rank even low in terms of sanitation and open defecation with lesser developed nations like Bangladesh, Burundi, Afghanistan and other sub Saharan African nations.
The issue of open defecation is very grave and we have to act upon it soon. Around 44% of mothers dispose their child’s faeces in the open which when added to others defecating in the open means there is a shit load of virus spreading in the open. Defecating openly results in high possibility of water contamination.
PROBLEMS WOMEN FACE:
Imagine the shame for women when it comes to defecating in the open.
But what can they do when there is no toilet nearby?
I heard once that many women wait for night fall so that they can relieve themselves. Imagine the pain they go through to not lose their dignity.
I feel bad for the adolescent girls whose parents stop sending them to school due to schools either not having a toilet or not having separate toilets for girls.
Also the recent gang rape of 2 adolescent girls in Bihar is one nightmare of a reason why parents stop educating the girl child altogether.
This needs to change soon for the sake of womankind and our future.
LEADERS TAKING ACTION:
This issue had been pressed upon earlier by the father of our nation “Mahatma Gandhi” who dreamed of a clean India with basic facilities.
Bindeshwar Pathak often touted as India’s “Toilet Guru” has also done his bit and vows to continue doing so till he lives.
Narendra Modi, our Prime Minister has asked us Indians to pledge our support to get rid of waste and make India a clean place by 2019 which will mark as the 150th birth anniversary of “Mahatma Gandhi”. The program is named “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” which has gained a lot of momentum already.
DOMEX INITIATIVE:
Domex currently runs the Domex Toilet Academy (DTA). It was launched on 19th November 2013.
It aims to be a sustainable and long-term solution to provide sanitation that benefits the local community.
The Toilet Academy makes toilets accessible and affordable, while promoting the benefits of clean toilets & good hygiene. They aim to build around 24000 toilets by 2015 to eradicate the issue of open defecation as much as possible.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
The answer is – One click!
You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.
I would like to thank Indiblogger and Domex for giving me this opportunity to write and help girls like Babli. If this works, then everyone will be happy. I urge all my friends, blog followers to do their bit so that girls like Babli can live a peaceful and dignified life.