TALK TOILET

So long society is reluctant to give the importance that toilet deserves in our public life, we shall keep on talking about it. How many people are aware that Nov 19 is observed every year as the World Toilet Day. Many may be knowing the date as Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s b-day. Sponsored by Sulabh, the day was observed in the FICCI Auditorium when a 250- kg toilet shaped cake was cut. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, on this occasion opined that it might look funny to many but as a matter of fact, this symbolic gesture carried a deep meaning.

To mark the day, the major newspapers brought out the World Bank report revealing some shocking facts and figures. It surprised us when it informed that about 2.5 billion people in the world are not having access to clean toilets. In India alone, around 600 m people or 53% of the population resort to open defecation. In India, 1,310 lakh households lack inhouse toilets. Though there are 80 lakh public conviences, many more are required forthwith.  Since toilet is a civilisational norm, open defecation and culture cannot coexist. Jaehyang So, Manager, World Bank expressed that “open defecation is at the root of many development challenges”.

On Nov 19 itself, while in a train to Ranchi, in a Hindi newspaper, I came across a stunning news that in the matters of open defecation, Jharkhand is occupying the top slot in the world. In its rural areas, 92.4% houses have no toilets. In 2010, the UNDP released its human development report according to which in the African countries like Niger and Chad, 91% houses were not having toilets. Burkina Faso and Ethopia with 89% were on the third position. The figure quoted above about Jharkhand are based on the population figures of 2011 which by far surpasses others. However, the Jharkhand state Govt has challenged these figures. They put it between 35 to 42%.

Without going into the intricacies of figures, we can straightway say that open defecation by even a single individual is a shame. Despite all the missile and satellite programmes, India cannot command respect in the comity of nations till the complete eradication of the bane of easing out al fresco.